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5 Tips for Halloween Decor Safety

As Halloween approaches, people everywhere are beginning to decorate their houses and front yards as haunted mansions and deserted graveyards. While it is easy to go all out (because who doesn’t love spooky Halloween decorations?), it is important to consider potential safety threats that exist when using significant amounts of electricity to power your decorations. Consider these 5 safety tips as you decorate for this Halloween.

Do Not Exceed Electricity Limitations

It is important to be aware of how much electricity your decorations are using in total and compare that to your home’s circuit breaker limitations. If you overload your home’s electricity, you could cause a power outage or worse, a power surge that could permanently damage your home’s appliances.

Use LED Lights Whenever Possible

While other types of bulbs are not always inherently dangerous, LED light bulbs present the lowest risk of fires because they produce very little heat. Not only this, but LED lights draw power more efficiently than other bulbs and are far less likely to overload an outlet because of that. Furthermore, they are more suitable for outdoor use and last significantly longer than their counterparts.

Only Use Outdoor Decorations Outside

While this might seem obvious, you might be surprised to find that a particular decoration is not recommended for outdoor use. The reason behind this is that an electronic component of a decoration could become damaged by water or wildlife. In the worst-case scenario, this could cause an electrical fire. Before you use any electronic decoration outside, always check the warning labels.

“Child-Proof” Interior Decorations

If you have children, expect that they will try to play with any decoration you have on the inside of your home. Toddlers present a great risk of electrocution because of their tendency to chew on things. Do not leave electrical decorations in places that your child could reach them in order to prevent harm to them. This same principle goes for pets such as dogs or cats.

Make Sure You’re Covered

Even with all of these precautions taken, a disaster can happen in a matter of seconds with unknown causes. It is important that you are protected financially in the event of an electrical fire destroying your home or a power surge ruining your appliances. With Homeowners Insurance, the burden of repair costs on your home in the event of a disaster is lifted. Even if you lose your home, with the right homeowners insurance plan, you rest knowing that you’ll be taken care of. 

So as you plan for the upcoming holiday, consider these five tips to keep you and your loved ones safe during “Spooky Season.”