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