| Ho, Ho, Ho, Holiday greetings to
| |
| | otherwise sane and contentious homeowners
|
| you!Every year at this time I can't help
| |
| | decide to do their most creative
|
| but notice the beautiful holiday lighting
| |
| | electrical lighting, decorating, and
|
| and adornment. It's great to see that
| |
| | wiring this time of year. Some of the
|
| even homes with a "For Sale" sign on the
| |
| | more festive observations have been:-
|
| front lawn have been bedazzled with
| |
| | Twelve indoor extension cords lying in a
|
| lights! But this good deed seldom goes
| |
| | garden fountain
|
| without also decking the halls with many
| |
| | - Eleven lighted candles each behind a
|
| holiday hazards.You may be feeling happy
| |
| | curtain
|
| for the holidays, but you'll be roasting
| |
| | - Ten cracked cords in a single outlet
|
| more than chestnuts if you lose respect
| |
| | - Nine rocking reindeer sparking on a
|
| for the dangers inherent in the season!
| |
| | rooftop
|
| It is sad to say, but more homes burn
| |
| | - Eight unattended potpourri pots a
|
| during December than any other month. And
| |
| | bubbling and a boiling
|
| electricity is not the only hazard
| |
| | - Seven realtors cell phones charging
|
| contributing to the risk.Candles! Gosh
| |
| | near a wet counter
|
| they look so good and the scent can set
| |
| | - Six spliced wires wrapped with duct
|
| the perfect holiday mood. But always
| |
| | tape
|
| remember this about candles - they are on
| |
| | - Five frosty snowmen hanging by frayed
|
| fire! Seasonal candles on windowsills
| |
| | wires
|
| near your beautiful curtains and shears
| |
| | - Four flood lights on a single broken
|
| is a perfect blend for combustion. Please
| |
| | fixture
|
| be sure candles are always attended when
| |
| | - Three space heaters blowing on a
|
| lighted, shielded by a glass enclosure,
| |
| | Christmas tree
|
| and located so the cat doesn't knock them
| |
| | - Two light bulbs covered with red
|
| over. And put out all candles before
| |
| | plastic bags
|
| snuggling in for the night!And what about
| |
| | - One extension cord draped over a
|
| space heaters! These little gems can put
| |
| | chimney while the fire's a blazingOkay, I
|
| just the right amount of heat right where
| |
| | confess! I took some liberties in putting
|
| you need it. But, they can also burn the
| |
| | this list together. But keep in mind that
|
| house down. Space heaters need to be in a
| |
| | electrical hazards know no season! Our
|
| clear space! That might even be why they
| |
| | friends at the U.S. Consumer Product
|
| call them "space" heaters, cause if they
| |
| | Safety Commission (CPSO) estimate that
|
| are too close to bedding, curtains, or
| |
| | about 4,000 injuries associated with
|
| clothing there is a fair chance of fire.
| |
| | electric extension cords are treated in
|
| Many a home has burned even with the
| |
| | hospital emergency rooms each year. They
|
| heater in clear space. Please be careful
| |
| | also estimate that each year, about 3,300
|
| about flinging a towel, shirt, or sheet
| |
| | residential fires originate in extension
|
| as you climb under the covers. Any
| |
| | cords, killing 50 people and injuring
|
| article landing on the heater is certain
| |
| | about 270 others. The most frequent
|
| to burn.While we are thinking about space
| |
| | causes of such fires are short circuits,
|
| heaters, be especially cautious about the
| |
| | overloading, damage, and/or misuse of
|
| misuse of kerosene-fired space heaters.
| |
| | extension cords.The real point is, be it
|
| These babies can really put out the heat!
| |
| | in our own homes, homes we visit, or
|
| But please, read the directions and
| |
| | homes we list, keep an eye out for the
|
| follow them like your life depended on
| |
| | hazards that need to be addressed. Lives
|
| it. Of special concern is ventilation. If
| |
| | depend on it. Plus, if one of your
|
| your space heater's directions require
| |
| | property listings burn to the ground, it
|
| outside air for ventilation, crack a
| |
| | makes for some very difficult
|
| window or what ever it takes to be
| |
| | disclosures!Be safe and enjoy the
|
| compliant. The risk of death from carbon
| |
| | holidays!Wally Conway is President of
|
| monoxide poisoning is far greater than
| |
| | Florida HomePro Inspections, and has been
|
| fire. Carbon monoxide is colorless and
| |
| | featured regularly on HGTV's "House
|
| odorless ensuring a sound sleep for all
| |
| | Detective". Wally has recently written a
|
| eternity.Gotta love stockings hung by the
| |
| | book entitled "Secrets of the Happy Home
|
| fire - but gotta also be sure they are
| |
| | Inspector", available at or As a
|
| removed before the fire is a blazing!
| |
| | speaker, writer, instructor, and host of
|
| Maybe back in the day when wool stockings
| |
| | The Happy Home Inspector radio show every
|
| hung by the fire, it was not so risky,
| |
| | Saturday at 3 PM on WOKV 690, Wally
|
| but these days those fuzzy fake flannel
| |
| | blends the right amount of up-to-date
|
| stockings burn better than fat lighter.
| |
| | information with just the right amount of
|
| So choose your effect - either stockings
| |
| | humor, insight, motivation, and
|
| hung by the fireplace, or a fire in the
| |
| | real-world application. Visit for more
|
| fireplace, but certainly not both at the
| |
| | information!
|
| same time!For some strange reason,
| |
| |
|
