Let the Games Begin!

The competition is about to start. Participants are quietly readying themselves for this year’s match. It will be a test of courage and physical endurance as competitors face brutal cold and icy conditions for a chance at victory.

No, I am not referring to the much anticipated events of the Vancouver Winter Olympics. I am referring to the annual ritual of hanging holiday lights and the competition to be bigger and better than the year before—or at least better than the house down the street.

The holidays certainly wouldn’t be the same without these dedicated neighbors who make our gray winters so festive and colorful. And, the utility companies can’t complain about the year-end bump in revenues. However, while enjoying all the harmless fun, it’s important to keep in mind that the season also brings with it heightened risk for fire and other safety hazards.

The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) states that about 10,500 people are treated in emergency rooms each year for injuries related to holiday lights, decorations and Christmas trees. There are 11,000 candle-related fires each year resulting in 150 deaths and countless injuries. The statistics go on.

This isn't to say that you should pull the plug on your extensive collection of lighted inflatables. But, you might want to consider a few of the following safety tips before setting up that ladder:

• Outdoor lights should be plugged into GFCI protected outlets (see this month’s Technical Corner)
• Remember that electricity and water should never mix—even with outdoor lights. Keep connections away from puddles, drips and any other potential water source (I know--again with the water, for those of you still reeling from last month’s newsletter)
• Overloaded extension cords can get hot and burn
• Only use UL or ETL-tested lights
• Check older strands of lights carefully and toss any that show signs of wear or damage (Just because it works it does not mean it is safe to use)
• Replace burned out bulbs with those of the same wattage
• Listen to the box. Connect no more than the recommended number of strands together (usually 3). And, no more than that onto a single extension cord.
• Unplug the lights when you leave the house or go to bed. Lights can short and start a fire
• Be careful where you place lighted candles—and never use to decorate the tree
• If you do light candles, use non-flammable candle holders (little votive candles may appear harmless, but they do still hold fire)
• As you unwrap gifts, keep used wrapping paper away from fireplaces and candles
• Use flame resistant paper when making paper decorations for the tree
• Avoid burning evergreens in the fireplace. Dry evergreen boughs can flare out of control and shoot sparks into the room.
• Keep matches, lighters, and candles out of the reach of children (Side note: Scented candles can tempt children to take a bite).
• Prolong the freshness of real trees to avoid increasing risk of fire. Hot lights twisted onto dry tree branches—not good

While we all enjoy a grand rooftop display of Shrek in winter wonderland, if you live in one of those quaint Seattle houses built in the 1920s, with the original knob and tube wiring still intact, you may be wise to exercise some restraint. Some of these older electrical systems were not designed to support even our current standard of “normal” household electrical usage, let alone three miles of Christmas lights used to wrap every inch of a Japanese maple.

Safety tips can’t beat good old fashioned common sense for avoiding senseless tragedy. Hope you use plenty of both to ensure another memorable and safe holiday season!

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Heat Safely

The National Fire Protection Association states that “heating equipment is the leading cause of home fires during the months of December, January and February, and trails only cooking equipment in home fires year-round.” This heating season, keep these tips in mind:

• Keep objects, including curtains, away from heat sources, such as electric baseboard heat registers, radiators and space heaters.
• If you have an electric in-wall heater, check with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to make sure yours isn’t on the recall list
• Never leave space heaters unattended and always turn them off before going to bed
• Have your heating system serviced annually, and change filters often
• Never use cooking appliances, such as a range or oven, to heat the house
• If you plan on using the wood-burning fireplace, make sure the chimney is clean and the flue is open.

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Add this to your Santa's Wish List

By now you are pretty well aware that you need to have operating smoke detectors in your home. You should have at least one on each level and near/in sleeping areas. And, you probably know that you should have fire extinguishers charged and ready to go--at a minimum, one near the kitchen and one on the upper floor of a 2-story house.

Here's one you may not have thought about. If you live in a multi-story home (or an upper level condo unit), look out one of the windows on your upper floor and ask yourself whether you could survive a jump from it. No? What would you do if this window were your only option for escape during a raging fire?

A 2-story fire escape ladder will allow you to climb down to safety. It's compact for easy storage. And, they come in multiple lengths. If you are fortunate, you will never need it. If there is a fire, you will be grateful to have it.

IMPORTANT TIPS
Don't just buy one and throw the box into a bedroom closet and forget about it. Take the ladder out of the box and store it ready-to-use. You won’t have time to search for a box cutter or read instructions during an actual fire. In fact, you and each member of your family should use the ladder to practice your escape.

Note that some fire escape ladders are limited to "one-time use". Pay a little extra and opt for one that allows you to reuse it, so that you can test it and do practice drills.

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 Seeing is believing!

Cold air leaking in around window (glass is cold, too)

Cold air leaking in beneath door (Blue = Cold)

Cold air leaking in through gap in wall/floor

You've probably heard more than once how important air sealing and good weatherstripping are to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Now you can see why. These are thermal images from energy audits we've performed. A couple of hours spent sealing up the house will give these clients years of winter warmth--not to mention saving money on their utility bills!

NEED AN ENERGY AUDIT?
CALL US:  425-220-7183

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