Safe displays

As the holiday season approaches, it’s time to get your sparkle on.

I don’t want to sound like the Grinch, but it’s also the time when you should be aware of the safety issues involved with outdoor and indoor lighting. Electrical malfunction is the factor for 73% of fires that involve decorative lighting.

When it comes to putting up a safe display, here are a few things to avoid that would put you on the naughty list:

• Using indoor extension cords outdoors. This is a biggie. With all the moisture outside, cords should be ground fault protected to reduce the risk of short circuits or fires.
• Overloading an outlet. Whether indoors or outdoors, each outlet is only designed to handle a specific amperage of electricity. Going over that can lead to tripped breakers and blown fuses.
• Using nails or staples to affix lights to your home. These can easily pierce cords. It’s best to use plastic light clips.
• Leaving your lights on 24/7. Even energy-efficient LED lights can overheat. We can install timers or photo controlled on-at-dusk/off-at-dawn meters so you don’t have to remember to turn them off.

Along with the holidays, now is the time of year we’re looking to save on heating bills. Here are a few tips:

• The lighting in your home accounts for about 10% of your overall energy usage. You can save by installing manual and light-sensing dimmers, timers, motion sensors, automated systems and task lights.
• We recommend a smart, programmable thermostat that enables you to raise or lower your temperature during times when you’re asleep or not home, which is an energy-saving game changer.

Give us a call so we can help create strategies for safe lighting displays and cost saving during the winter. 

From all of us at Streb Electric, our family to yours, here’s to a happy, healthy holiday season. It’s been a pleasure serving your electrical needs for more than 50 years and throughout the year.

Streb Electric is headquartered in Willoughby and serves homes and businesses throughout Lake, Geauga and Cuyahoga counties. Call 440-953-5819 or visit StrebElectric.com for more information.