Electrical Services

The months of November and December are something special. There’s something in the air, and we don’t just mean snow. It’s the holiday spirit and feelings of coziness that make many love this time of year. Decorations are everywhere, illuminating the nights with colorful lights. Unfortunately, that comes with added electrical risk (look at all those wires!). It’s because of this huge uptick in electrical usage that an electrical safety inspection could be a lifesaver during the holiday season.

As a trusted electrical services provider in the area, Holtzople Heating, Air Conditioning and Electrical Services can keep your spirits high and your safety risk low, even if your house is lit up like a Christmas tree. Don’t wait until something goes wrong to spring into action. Be proactive with the electrical safety tips we’ll cover in this blog!

Understanding the Seasonal Electrical Load in Mid-Atlantic Homes

Homes built within the last few years are probably up to code when it comes to electrical wiring. If you live in an older home, though, you may want to consider an electrical safety inspection. Why? Because it likely wasn’t built with today’s energy demands (or safety standards) in mind. When you add holiday lights, increased heating use, and frequent kitchen activity onto the daily electrical load, that’s quite a bit of juice. Let’s break down the holiday electrical loads you’re likely dealing with.

Holiday Lighting, Space Heaters & Cooking Equipment Add Extra Stress

• Loads of wattage are used by lights and other decorative displays (looking at you, giant inflatable illuminated Santa).
• Space heaters are often left on for hours at a time (especially during the cold nights).
• Ovens, air fryers, and other cooking appliances see frequent, simultaneous usage before, during, and even after gatherings.

Why Local Homes Are More Vulnerable

• Many homes in Western Maryland and Pennsylvania have been around for at least a few decades, before we relied so heavily on all manner of electrical devices. This means they weren’t built to handle high electrical loads we’re used to today.
• The cold that arrives with winter means your heating demands are higher, which causes your energy usage to spike.
• The occasional power grid issue (like those seen during winter storms) can pose even more risk to already-sensitive systems.

Signs Your System Is Overloaded

Keep an eye out for telltale signs of a struggling electrical system. Flickering or dimming lights, frequent breaker trips, buzzing electrical outlets, and burning smells are all indications that something is amiss. If you notice even one of these symptoms, please schedule an electrical safety inspection.

Safe Holiday Decorating Tips

We know you’re excited to deck the halls with all manner of lights and trinkets (and boughs of holly, of course), but don’t get too hasty about it. Taking a safety-first approach can literally be a lifesaver, so let’s check out some safety tips.

Indoor Electrical Safety

• Extension Cords: Choose cords with the appropriate gauge for the devices that will be plugged into it. Though it can be tempting, don’t run them under rugs. Finally, they should be used on a temporary basis; don’t make them a permanent fixture.
• Power Strips: Don’t have enough outlets, even after plugging in a power strip? You might think you can just plug another power strip into the first one. Please do not do this; it’s a great way to overload circuits.
• Lights and Decor: Only use UL-Certified lights. Make sure whatever lights you purchase carry a UL label that guarantees safety standards. 
• Decor Placement: Don’t place decorative lights near curtains or water sources like humidifiers and fish tanks.

Outdoor Electrical Safety

• Extension Cords: If running extension cords outside, make sure they’re weather-rated. Using an indoor cord outside can result in cracking, shorting, or even electrical shock.
• Cords and Snow: Keep cords away from snow and ice. We know this can be tricky in some areas, but it’s vital to avoid shorting and damage.
• Inspections: Before spending a day carefully putting up lights, inspect them to make sure they aren’t damaged. Even brand new strings of lights can have defects!
• Outlets: Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) can prevent shocks caused by outdoor moisture.

Preventing Overloaded Outlets & Circuits

Know the Numbers

It’s tough to keep track of wattage, so let’s go over a quick cheat sheet of sorts for various devices. Here are some typical wattage demands for electrical equipment you may be using during the holidays:

• Holiday inflatables: 60–250 watts
• Older incandescent light strings: 40–80 watts per strand
• LED lights: 4–7 watts per strand
• Space heaters: 1,200–1,500 watts

It’s also important to recognize the signs that circuits are being overloaded, which we mentioned above (warm outlets, burning smells, flickering lights, tripping breakers). If you notice these, pause all use of electrical decorations until an inspection can be performed and a solution can be reached.

To avoid overloading, consider:

• Spreading your decor as evenly as possible across multiple circuits
• Using LED lights, which use less wattage
• Run space heaters on circuits separate from your decorations

Space Heater & HVAC Considerations

It’s hard to understate just how much electricity is being used by the average household in the winter when compared to other seasons. Not only are more things plugged in, but heating systems are working hard to keep everyone warm and comfortable.

If you’re using space heaters, make sure you’re keeping three feet of clearance around each unit in all directions. Only plug them into wall outlets (not power strips or extension cords) and use models that have auto-shutoff features built in.

Of course, we always recommend a full-on heating system over space heaters, which should really only be a last resort. Luckily for you, we offer proven HVAC services in addition to electrical solutions. Get in touch with us and we’ll figure out a whole-home heating solution that works for you!

Kitchen Electrical Safety During Holiday Cooking

We could go on and on about how to stay safe in the kitchen, but a lot of it would cover ground we’ve already covered, so we’ll keep this brief. A lot of it comes down to common sense and practicality. Don’t:

• Overcrowd the countertops
• Plug multiple appliances into the same circuit
• Use dated or damaged equipment to cook

It’s also important to note that the GFCI outlets we mentioned earlier are essential in a kitchen setting (moisture and electricity don’t play nice). Don’t have these outlets in your kitchen? Upgrade as soon as possible.

Child & Pet Safety Around Holiday Décor

We hope any adults who read this blog will understand it perfectly, but kids and pets? That’s a different story. They won’t be as safety-conscious as you, so a bit of child and pet proofing is needed.

First off, consider cord management. Rather than just leaving a jumble of them running along the baseboards, invest in clips and strips that will minimize tripping hazards. Not only this, but you should keep cords and wires well out of the way so as to prevent a curious toddler or puppy from playing with them.

As a final note on kid proofing, make sure you keep all lights, batteries, and other fragile decorations out of reach. In addition to the electrical hazards we’ve been hammering into your minds, broken pieces can easily cause injuries.

The Importance of Regular Electrical Inspections (Especially Before Winter Stress)

We know we’ve harped on this endlessly since the beginning of this blog, but it’s worth taking the time to give this bit of advice its own shoutout. While scheduling an electrical safety inspection is a step in the right direction, it’s a full inspection routine that maximizes your safety and savings.

That means you’re having a Holtzople electrician pay you a visit every year before the big electrical load the holidays bring. As we become more and more attuned to technology and devices, the electrical demand on our systems is going to get bigger. We’ll perform everything necessary to ensure your home is ready:

• Panel checks
• Wiring assessments
• Outlet safety tests
• Surge protection recommendations

When You’re Traveling for the Holidays: Electrical Safety Checklist

Of course, not all of us stay home and fill our common areas with guests during the holidays. Some of us go out of town. Electrical safety is still important for you, too! Here’s a quick checklist you can use when you’re preparing to leave home.

• Unplug unnecessary devices
• Turn off all indoor decor
• Make sure any timers you’re using are UL-listed
• If you have the option, utilize whole-home surge protection
• Keep your thermostat lower than usual to avoid using too much energy, but warm enough to avoid frozen pipes

Safe Home, Happy Holiday

When it comes to keeping your home safe during the holidays, an electrical safety inspection is one of the most important things you should consider. Pair it with an increased awareness of safety measures and you’ll be able to celebrate the season in comfort.

We’re here to help! Get in touch with us today and schedule your electrical safety inspection.