It’s officially October and, with Halloween at the end of the month, Spooky Season.
That means it’s time to decorate your home with all manner of spooky animatronics, décor, foggers, lights, and props that you can use to decorate the interior and exterior of your house this time of year after ensuring electrical safety. Of course, you may also want to consider hiring Conroe electricians to perform routine electrical safety inspections this season.
According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), 52% of consumers intend to decorate their home or yard, with an estimated $3.17 billion spent on decorations alone. Additional expenditures will include seasonal candy, costumes, and greeting cards. The NRF adds that “consumer spending on Halloween-related items is expected to reach an all-time high of $10.14 billion” this year.
In addition, a new study by Lombardo Homes found that 41% of Americans start decorating for Halloween during the first week of October, spending an average of 3.3 hours each year. The study also found that Texas residents get into the season’s spirit and that the state’s most popular decoration is the witch.
Of course, when decorating for Spooky Season, you want to take necessary safety precautions to ward off frightful situations. That is especially essential as the U.S. Fire Administration reports that, between 2017 and 2019, fire departments responded to an average of 9,200 fires over three days around Halloween. Among the leading causes of residential Halloween fires were electrical malfunctions.
Here are some electrical safety tips from Conroe electricians to ensure you experience a fun, but most importantly, a safe Halloween.
Halloween Safety Tips
Avoid Flammable Items
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) encourages avoiding flammable products such as dried flowers, haystacks, or corn stalks in your Halloween displays. In addition, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends using battery-operated candles to illuminate your custom carved pumpkins.
Choose Your Décor Carefully
Suppose you are decorating with electrical decorations and Halloween lighting. In that case, it is essential to ensure that all products are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory like UL and that they are intended explicitly for outdoor use or indoor/outdoor use.
Check All Cords Before Each Use
Whether new or old, it is also best to inspect cords for signs of fraying or damage before each use, replacing them as needed. Any lines with exposed wiring should also be discarded and replaced. That goes for both extension cords and product cords.
Have GFCIs Installed by Conroe Electricians
Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) can protect against electric shock by continuously monitoring the current flowing through a circuit and, if it differs by even a minuscule amount, immediately interrupting power to the outlet. They are required by the National Electrical Code (NEC). Conroe electricians should professionally install them in residential electrical systems in areas where moisture is a concern, including the outdoors.
Consult Conroe Electricians for an Electrical Safety Inspection
With over thirty years of experience in Montogomery County, TX, A&H Electric Co. is your local licensed electrical service, repair, and installation company. We offer a suite of commercial and residential electrical solutions, including but not limited to safety inspections and system upgrades, along with complete rewiring services.
Our Conroe electricians can troubleshoot, repair, service, or install your electrical system Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. We are also proud to provide 24-hour emergency repair for those times when the unexpected happens. To schedule an electrical service appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact A&H Electric at (936) 756-0442.
A&H Electric Co. wishes everyone a happy and safe Halloween!
Resources:
“CPSC Fact Sheet: What is a GFCI?” Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
“Data Snapshot: Halloween Fires (2017 – 2019).” U.S. Fire Administration.
Inman, Danielle. “Halloween Spending Soars as Celebrations Near Pre-Pandemic Levels. National Retail Federation (NRF), September 22, 2021.
“Halloween Fire Safety Tips.” National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
“Halloween Safety Tips.” Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).
“Which State Decorates the Most for Halloween?” Lombardo Homes.