The holiday season is upon us. It’s not yet Thanksgiving, but some stores are already playing Christmas music. Maybe they’re just in a rush to spread a little holiday joy. In fact, who doesn’t need some joy these days? While holiday joy is contagious and a lot of fun to share, it’s important at this time to keep your wits about you and maintain a healthy dose of common sense. This is true especially when it comes to holiday home safety. Let’s take a look at some ways to keep your home and loved ones safe this holiday season.
Keeping children safe
If some of your guests have children or toddlers, here are a few precautions to keep the little ones safe.
Get child caps for electrical outlets within children’s reach. These are very inexpensive and can be purchased at most hardware stores.
Erect a child-deterring barrier on stairs. This should be done inside the home and on decks if guests will be congregating outside.
Children and pets sometimes don’t mix well. If your dog or cat is not accustomed to children, it may be prudent to keep them secure in a room away from the kids. Better to play it on the safe side. Of course, if your dog grew up in a houseful of kids, then by all means let him enjoy the festivities.
Speaking of pets, don’t give them too many holiday treats. Some human food can be dangerous to feed dogs or cats. Sometimes it’s just too rich and upsets their stomachs. Avoid unpleasant surprises by being stingy with food treats, and keep a sharp eye on kids who might be sneaking food to them.
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
Few sights are as lovely as a fully decked-out Christmas tree. Lights, ornaments, angels, and tinsel are like candy to your eyes, but always stay focused on safety.
The number one holiday home safety tip for Christmas trees: Keep your tree well-hydrated and away from sources of combustion, such as candles or fireplaces. Use a stand that has a water reservoir, and keep it filled. Be sure your strings of holiday lights have no frayed wires that can spark fires. And be sure to turn the lights out when you leave the room or retire for the evening.
Delicate glass ornaments can be hazardous to children. Keep them on higher branches away from tiny hands. Also, small ornaments can be choking hazards for toddlers. Best to keep them out of reach. Then there’s tinsel, which can be problematic if ingested by children or pets. Either don’t use it, or keep it higher up on the tree. Some parents even keep a childproof gate around their Christmas trees. This is good for keeping small dogs out, but it’s not much of a deterrent for most cats.
The great outdoors
Outdoor displays are a favorite way to spread holiday cheer. Some are as simple as a string of lights along the eaves of your home. Others are dazzling light shows that thrill the neighbors and bring visitors from afar. Most are somewhere in between. Whatever your style, be sure to use lights and extension cords that are rated for outdoor use and have no frayed wires. If you are tacking strings of lights to your house or to outside trees, be sure not to puncture the wires with nails or tacks. Also, it’s a good idea to turn the lights off when you go to bed for the night to prevent fires and to save electricity.
Going away for the holidays? Keep your home secure
Are you heading over the river and through the woods for the holidays? Here are some holiday home safety best practices to keep your home secure. Never broadcast your vacation plans publicly on social media. That’s like telling the world that your house will be vacant while you’re away. Keep those travel plans on the “down low” to all but a few trusted friends and neighbors. Give the appearance that someone is home. Here are some ways to accomplish this.
- Use a timer to turn some house lights on and off. Some of the better models can be set to turn the lights on at dusk and turn them off later, simulating your bedtime hours.
- Ask the post office to hold your mail while you’re gone, and postpone newspaper delivery until you return. Nothing screams “empty house” like an overflowing mailbox and a stack of newspapers in your driveway.
- Leave a car in the driveway if you can. Even if you have a garage, a car in the driveway is a good deterrent to thieves.
- If possible, ask a trusted neighbor to put one of his trash bins in front of your house on trash days. You don’t want to be the only house on your block without a bin at the curb. That’s sure sign that nobody is home.
Buying or selling a home?
Whatever the season, call Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young, 828-808-4980, or click here to make an appointment today.
