No matter whether you’re celebrating Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas or something else in the month of December, we are approaching the Winter Solstice in the northern hemisphere. Wednesday, December 21, is officially the shortest day of the year in 2022 when the North Pole reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun putting us all into the darkness earlier and longer than any other day of the year.
That means it is also time to think about upping your holiday home lighting game. At Helfrich Associates, we recommend before you start that you first watch the film, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” with Chevy Chase for a lesson about what not to do (and lots of laughs too). Chevy’s character Clark Griswold is a huge Christmas fan and nearly kills himself and other family members with a shocking display of 25,000 outdoor lights that puts a smile on the face of every electric utility executive in America.
Holiday display lighting is serious business when it comes to safety and it is expensive with legacy incandescent lights that are beautiful to see but are also power hungry. Newer LED lights are the greener choice of the season that consume less power because they require less electricity and are friendlier to the environment. They are also less likely to start a fire due to their reduced heat output, and their lower current reduces the chance of wire overheating.
The National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), America’s fire safety authority, reminds us that Christmas trees are large potentially combustible items in the home. Living in a pot, fresh-cut or artificial trees all have caused hundreds of structure fires that have led to deaths and resulted in millions of dollars of property damage over the past five years.
Statistically, according to the NFPA, Christmas tree fires don’t happen often, but when they do, they’re much more likely to be serious. For example, the deadly fire that occurred at a row house in Philadelphia this past January, which involved a Christmas tree and caused 12 fatalities (nine of them children), tragically underscores this point.
Not to be a “Grinch” about it, but please be sensible about the number of light strings or other powered decorations plugged end-to-end into a single outlet or in a single room or area circuit. The NFPA says tree fires typically occur between 3 pm and midnight, accounting for one-half of associated fires. Another 26 percent of fires occurred between 9 a.m. and 3 pm. Two of every five home Christmas tree fires started in the living room, family room, or den. Electrical failures or malfunctions were factors in more than one-third (34 percent) of Christmas tree fires.
At Helfrich Associates, we are frequently called by homeowner’s insurance companies after these sad accidents occur to help evaluate damage, recommend repair plans and estimate costs. Many homeowners these days can find themselves unfortunately under-insured when it comes to replacing custom cabinetry, entertainment system equipment, decorator flooring or carpeting, artwork and more. So, we say be sure you install lighting automatic timers and check to see that all lighting is off before you leave home or go to bed at night.
Fires involving fresh or live Christmas trees tend to be more common than artificial tree fires. That’s in part because fresh Christmas trees dry out over time, making them more flammable the longer they’re in the home. A dried-out Christmas tree will burn much more quickly than a well-watered one and it can be hard to tell how dry a tree really is with all that red and green bling. There’s a lot to think about during the holiday season, and at Helfrich Associates we recommend you set up a calendar with alarm on your phone to keep up with your watering.
The NFPA says for a fresh tree, cut the trunk 2 inches from the base of the trunk before placing it in the stand. Add water daily to keep the tree well hydrated. Trees should be placed at least 3 feet away from any heat source, such as fireplaces, radiators, heat vents, or lights. And at Helfrich Associates, we say that whatever you do, no matter how Victorian you might feel, never place real lit candles on your tree or fresh table wreath greenery.
Before you string any tree, faux, fresh cut or real, with lights take the time to test all your lights. Replace anything that isn’t in good working order and performing according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Throw out any lighting string with frayed wiring or broken bulbs that can’t be replaced because they are stuck in the socket. You’ll not only be safer, but you’ll also avoid the frustration of hanging light strings that fail after all the decorations are on the tree.
If your December plans include purchasing, building or remodeling a new home, please give us a call and let us help make your holiday dreams come true. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and Kwanza from all of us Helfrich Associates. We wish you a safe and happy holiday season, including a terrific New Year’s Eve and then a fantastic start to 2023.