Fergus Falls, MN – Taking down your decorative lights after the holidays and storing them until next season will reduce wear and tear on the electrical decorations. And by not lighting up the night until spring you’ll save energy and money. Here are some safety suggestions.
Discard decorations with worn or frayed electrical cords, broken or cracked sockets, damaged plugs, or loose connections.
To reduce the chance of electrical shock, use a fiberglass ladder when taking down holiday lights and be sure to stay clear of overhead electrical wires.
Never yank, kink, or bend electrical cords. This may crack the insulation around the wiring, which could lead to shock or electrical fire.
Take advantage of after-holiday sales to stock up on LED holiday lights. LED lights are safer, more resistant to shock and vibration, use less electricity, allow more strings to be connected together, and can last 50 times longer than incandescent lights.
But beware of bargains that seem too good to be true
Products may be cheap because they are counterfeit or defective. Take steps to protect your family from the dangers of counterfeit holiday decorations.
Avoid no-name electrical products or products sold at deep discount stores. Only purchase electrical products from a reputable distributor or retailer.
Check to see if the packaging contains contact information for the manufacturer. Reputable companies are proud of their products and will provide phone numbers and addresses.
Examine the warning label. It should be free of grammatical errors and not conflict with information elsewhere on the package.
Look for the Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL), Canadian Standards Association (CSA), or Intertek (ETL-SEMKO) certification marks. If you have concerns about the marks, contact the certifier.
“Electricity is a powerful tool and certainly helps brighten the holidays,” says Eric Hamm, Otter Tail Power Company Safety Services Manager. “It also can be a lethal hazard. But good safety standards and safety habits will help ensure that you’ll be able to put up those lights again next year.”
Otter Tail Power Company, a subsidiary of Otter Tail Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select Market: OTTR), is headquartered in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. It provides electricity and energy services to more than a quarter million people in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. To learn more about Otter Tail Power Company visit www.otpco.com. To learn more about Otter Tail Corporation visit www.ottertail.com.
