The Christmas season is a special time of year, with presents and family and lots of feasting. The Christmas season is also the time when we drag live trees into our home, transforming our living rooms into a winter wonderland.
Live Christmas trees have a wonderful smell, and they create an authentic backdrop for your holiday celebrations. But if you are not carefully, that live tree can also create a fire hazard. If you want to enjoy your holiday safely, you need to take some precautions. Here are some timely fire safety tips for your Christmas tree.
Brace It Carefully
If you have pets or small children, you need to brace your Christmas tree carefully. Rampaging cats and dogs and curious toddlers could easily knock the tree over, and if it lands near a space heater or baseboard a fire could easily result.
Take the time to brace the tree carefully. Make sure the clamps are holding the tree firmly in place and choose a spot where the tree will not get knocked down easily. A corner is a good spot for the tree, especially if that area is well away from any heat sources.
Keep It Watered
The number one thing you can do to improve safety is keep your Christmas tree watered. Live Christmas trees can soak up an enormous amount of water, so much so that the tray can go dry before you even know it.
Keep a big pitcher of water nearby and check the reservoir every time you pass the tree. Do not wait for the well to go dry before you fill it – filling the tray ahead of time will ensure the tree always has something to drink and the needles do not dry out and create a fire hazard.
Use the Right Lights
The kind of lights you use can make a big difference in the safety of the Christmas season. Old style Christmas lights may be big and bright, but they also burn quite hot. That heat can be a real problem on a live Christmas tree, especially if you are not diligent with keeping it watered. Replacing your old lights with new cooler burning LED lights will make your tree look better and enhance your home safety as well.
LED lights have other advantages as well, including lower energy usage and greater reliability. If you have not yet replaced your hot burning energy hogging Christmas tree lights, make this the year you finally make the switch.
Having a live Christmas tree is a wonderful idea, but it is important to follow some common sense safety precautions. It does not take much to keep your Christmas tree safe, and once those steps are taken, you can enjoy the rest of the holiday season without worry.
