Decorations are up! It’s that time of year again. As we sat and looked at our Christmas tree this past weekend (you know – the one it took us three hours to decorate?) we were reminded of all the things we do to enjoy our tree all the way until the New Year. We thought we’d share those tips with you this week to help all of our readers have a safe holiday season:

• Electrical Outlets: Make sure they’re not overloaded. This is the number one cause of Christmas tree fires! If you’re using a surge protector or power strip, make sure it’s extended away from the tree to avoid needles dropping into open outlets.
• Water, Water, Water! A well-watered tree is much less of a fire hazard than a dry one. Check the water reservoir daily, especially since running the heat in our home can hasten evaporation.
• Surrounding Hazards: If you live in an older home with radiators or baseboard heat, make sure your tree is substantially far away from these fire hazards.
• Christmas Pets: If you’ve got overly curious cats and dogs, a fence or child gate around the tree might not be a bad idea – for both your sanity and fire prevention!
• The Right Lights: Use only UL-listed lights designed for decorative use on your real or artificial tree and be sure to inspect each strand while you’re decorating.

The Staff at San Juan Realty, Inc.