Thanksgiving and all of the holiday’s wonderful food has come and gone and now everyone is getting ready for Christmas. There are all sorts of things to do in order to get ready for the holiday. Primarily, there is all of the shopping. However, just as important to the shopping is the tree itself.
Without a Christmas tree, where would all of the presents be put? No Christmas decorating is complete without a Christmas tree. Unfortunately, with all of the beauty that comes with a Christmas tree, there is a bit of risk involved as well. Christmas trees are very flammable, and they only get worse the longer they are in a home.
Prevent a Fire in Your Home
Christmas trees are a beautiful and central part of Christmas decorating. Pretty much everyone who celebrates the holiday has a tree up in their living room. What type of tree they have is dependent on their preferences. Some people prefer the look and smell of a real tree while others prefer the convenience and safety of a fake tree. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages.
When it comes to real trees, there is always a fire hazard risk. Pine trees are very flammable, thanks to all of the oils in them, and they only get more flammable the drier they become. In order for a person to reduce the risk of their tree catching on fire in their living room, they should follow these tips:
- Don’t get too big of a tree since a topper and stand will add to the height.
- Don’t place trees in such a way that they block, or partially block, an exit.
- Don’t store discarded trees in a garage, shed, or against the house since they are extremely flammable. Look into how your city wants trees to be disposed of, it might have a program.
- Keep trees well-watered to delay the plant from drying out.
- Never use lit candles to decorate a tree.
- Only buy fresh trees. Trees can be tested by bouncing a tree on its stump and seeing how many leaves fall off the branches. The less that fall off, the better.
- Only use lights tested and approved by the UL or ETL.
- Place trees away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators, heating vents, candles, and lights.
- Throw out damaged Christmas lights.
- Try to position Christmas trees close to an electrical socket to reduce the need for extension cords.
- Try to use flame retardant decorations on Christmas trees.
- Turn off Christmas tree lights when not home or when going to bed.
- When leaves begin falling off rapidly, get rid of the tree immediately.
By following these tips, a person can help prevent a fire from starting in their own living room, which is the last thing anyone wants near the holidays.
Follow These Tips and Be Safe
Christmas is such a fun and magical time of year. Nobody wants this great time to be ruined by having a Christmas tree catching on fire inside their home. Luckily, with the proper care and precautions, a person can avoid having their holiday ruined by a fire.