Strike Out Fires This Holiday Season

The winter holiday season is supposed to be a relaxing time spent with close friends and family members, eating, laughing and sharing love. But that can easily change if something inside your home catches fire. It's vital to follow the simple tips below to ensure a happy and safe holiday season: Keep these tips in mind while decorating:

• Keep your Christmas tree at least 3 feet away from all sources of heat. This includes the fireplace, radiators and heat vents.
• Choose ones that are flame resistant and that don't produce lots of heat. Stick to LEDs when it comes to lights.
• Be careful with candles. Keep them away from decorations and other things that can easily catch fire such as window treatments, carpets and loose clothing.
• Never use outdoor lights indoors and vice versa. They are rated for use inside or out for specific reasons so be sure to purchase the right ones for the job.
• Avoid using nails or staples to hang lights. Clips are a safer alternative because there's less of a chance of damaging the cords.

Keep these tips in mind while entertaining:

• Be sure to test smoke alarms before your guests arrive.
• Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
• Never leave the kitchen while cooking on the stove. If you must step away, have somebody keep an eye on whatever it is you're cooking until you return.
• Ask smokers to do so outside - away from decorations.

Need a professional plumber or HVAC technician this winter? One call makes it simple because it's as easy as ABC! We've been serving the entire Chicagoland area for over 70 years, so you know you can count on us.