Break out the decorations – the holiday season is officially here. This is going to be a fun Christmas for us, because it will be my new granddaughter’s first. Of course, Papa is going to spoil her, no matter what my daughter has to say about it.
This past weekend, I went digging through my garage for my decorations – and with a little arm-twisting, I convinced the kids to help me get the house ready for the holidays. Here are a few things I want you to keep in mind as we get ready for the season.
Winter Wonderland or Accident Waiting to Happen?
Nothing says a holiday house like lots of twinkling lights, and icicles cascading from the roofline. As picturesque as those icicles are – they’re actually something you don’t want on your roof. Why? Icicles could be related to two things: bad, or clogged eavestrough, or ice dams. Make sure your gutters are cleared out before all the junk in there freezes. If you spot other bare spots on a roof that should be otherwise covered in snow, you may want to add some new attic insulation to your holiday wish-list.
Don’t use tinsel, or old wrapping paper to insulate – for attic spaces, I like using spray foam, blown-in cellulose or BATT insulation.
Holiday lights should only be hung during good weather conditions. Ladder accidents around the holidays become more common, and all it takes is one misstep to have an accident that may cause lasting repercussions.
A few guidelines for ladder safety that I always follow are the rule of three and the rule of four-to-one. The rule of three refers to our points of contact with the ladder. You should always have either two feet and one hand on the ladder, or two hands and one foot. Three points of contact at all times.
The rule of four to one means that for every four feet you need to climb with the ladder, it should be about one foot further from the structure (in this case, your house). And no matter what, always have a second person with you to hold the ladder steady.
Your light strings should be rated for outdoor use – and should be inspected before you hang them. The reverse is true for indoor lighting – some outdoor lights burn to hot to be safely used inside, so keep the outdoor lights out and the indoor lights in.
If after a few years the cords have started to fray, don’t just place some electrical tape on the weak spots, that means it’s time for them to be replaced, others they become a fire hazard.
Decorating Smart
It’s estimated that just shy of 800 fires per year are started by holiday decorations – and that doesn’t even include Christmas tree fires! When you’re putting out your holiday decorations, be smart and fire-safe about it.
The story may say that you hang your stockings by the chimney with care – but I’d avoid placing any decorations near an active heat source. About two out of five holiday fires are started because of flammable objects too close to a heat source. If your fireplace is just for show, go for it, but if you like a big roaring fire during the long winter nights, find another place for your stockings. I promise Santa will still find them.
I love a real tree because it smells good, and looks great – but there are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind to be sure it’s fire-safe. Buy a freshly cut tree (or make a day of it with your kids and cut one down) – and keep it watered.
You hope that a fire never happens to you, but if it does, the speed at which a dry tree will flame up, vs. a watered one could mean all the difference for you and your family when it comes to escaping the home.
No holiday is complete without the most important decoration: working smoke detectors. You need one on every level of your home, plus in bedrooms. And while you’re hanging your decorations, change the alarm batteries and test them to ensure they’re working properly.
For more watch Mike and his family on Holmes 911 on CTV Life Channel.
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