The 5 Common Fire Hazards in Your Home at Christmas

Christmas time is the period of the year when we all like to make our homes cosy and when we decorate ready for the festivities of the season. There are some of our holiday traditions, however, that may increase the chances of fires within our homes; we’ve listed some common fire hazards that you may not think of below.



Christmas Trees

Whether a faux tree or a real fir, Christmas trees should never be placed near a heat source. Although artificial trees are not likely to go up in flames, it is worth keeping them away from radiators or heaters. When it comes to real Christmas trees, they become increasingly flammable when they dry out, meaning that if you are going to have a real tree this year, make sure that you keep it watered and healthy.

Fairy Lights

Make sure that you don’t leave Christmas lights on for prolonged amounts of time as the bulbs could overheat and cause problems. Any overheating bulbs could cause trouble, especially near flammable materials such as a Christmas tree, so make sure that your lights are only used for relatively short intervals of time.

It may be tempting to leave fairy lights on while you are out of the house, but consider turning them off before you leave to avoid the filaments overheating.

Candles

A staple of a festive home, candles are an obvious fire hazard that needs to be monitored. To reduce the risk of fire, make sure that you don’t leave candles burning unattended, or put them near flammable materials like paper, wood, or cardboard.

As always, naked flames can be dangerous, no matter how small, so it definitely pays off to be aware of the dangers that they pose.

Portable Heaters

Many people opt for portable heaters in addition to, or in replacement of, central heating over the Winter months. While these machines do add extra cosiness to the home, they can also be dangerous if left unattended as they can get very hot which may lead to problems. Like with fairy lights, do not leave them on for too long, as they could also overheat.

Presents and Decorations

There is no Christmas without decorations and presents; however, due to the materials used in some Christmas decorations, they may be particularly flammable. Christmas cards and wrapping paper are also things to be aware of this festive season, and make sure not to keep gifts or cards near heat sources to reduce the risks of fires.

Make Sure That Your Fire Alarms are Working Properly

It’s essential that you make sure that your fire alarm systems are functioning properly this Winter because, in the event of a fire, they need to alert you of the danger. Many unnecessary fires happen during the Winter months because of excessive flammable materials and multiple heat sources.

Ace Fire Alarms is here to help with fire alarm installation in Plymouth to prepare your home for the coming festive season. Why not contact us today to see how we can help make your home more fire-safe?