Holiday Home Insurance Risks

Most people look forward to December as a time of happiness, family togetherness, and good cheer. However, the holiday season is actually one of the riskiest times of year for homes. The estimated fire damage from December 24, 25, and 26 is about $80 million. Every year, these damages result from close to 11,600 fires that necessitate a fire department response. The first thing you need to do to Christmas-proof your home is to verify that you have adequate home insurance coverage. If disaster does strike your home, you can file a home insurance claim and get reimbursed you for the damages. Aside from carrying sufficient home insurance, we've listed ten tips for Christmas fire safety below.

1. Be selective about holiday decorations. Try to choose decorations that are flame-retardant, fire-resistant, or non-combustible.
2. Be careful where you put candles. Don't put candles near decorations or other flammable materials, and never use candles to adorn your Christmas tree.
3. Buy Christmas lights that were pre-tested. When buying lights, look for those that have a label indicating the lights were tested in advance by an independent research lab.
4. Inspect the lights. Check over your lights carefully and repair any damage before you plug them in. Also don't overwhelm extension cords.
5. Unplug lights before changing bulbs. Always unplug the strand of lights before you change a defective bulb.
6. Verify how many strands you need. Don't connect more than three strands of push-in bulbs or more than 50 screw-in bulbs.
7. Hang your lights with care. Be careful not to damage your lights' insulation when you hang them. You should always use clips instead of nails.
8. Keep kids and pets away from electrical decorations. Make sure that children and animals cannot access light strands or other electrical decorations.
9. Turn everything off when you go to bed. Don't leave lights or other decorations on when you go to sleep. Unplug anything that is electrical.
10. Be careful around the stove. The number one cause of fires in homes is unattended cooking. Don't lose track of those holiday goodies you're making while visiting with relatives or friends.