As the holiday season approaches, many of us eagerly prepare to adorn our homes with decorations that bring joy and warmth. However, while it’s essential to create a festive atmosphere, safety should always be a top priority. Here are some important tips for the safe installation of holiday decorations to ensure a merry and secure season.

• Choose Safe Lighting Options: When selecting holiday lights, always opt for LED bulbs. They are energy-efficient, generate less heat, and are more durable than traditional incandescent bulbs. Inspect your lights for any frayed wires, broken sockets, or damaged cords before use. If you find any damage, it’s best to replace the faulty strings rather than risk a potential fire hazard.

• Follow Electrical Guidelines: If you’re using more than one strand of lights, follow the manufacturer’s guidelines about connecting multiple sets together. Avoid overloading electrical outlets and power strips; it's better to use a surge protector designed for holiday lights. Moreover, ensure that outdoor lights are rated for exterior use to withstand weather conditions.

• Secure Your Decorations: When hanging decorations, especially heavier items like wreaths or large ornaments, ensure they are securely attached. Use appropriate hangers, hooks, or adhesives designed for the wall surface to prevent them from falling and causing injury. For outdoor decorations, use ground stakes or weights to secure inflatable displays against wind.

• Safely Position Your Tree: If you choose to have a Christmas tree, make sure it’s placed on a stable surface away from heat sources like fireplaces and radiators. If you have pets or young children, consider using a tree stand with a secure base, or anchoring the tree to the wall to prevent it from tipping over.

• Avoid Blocking Exits: While it’s easy to get carried away with decorating, be mindful not to block doorways, windows, or exits with decorations. It’s important to ensure that everyone can exit the home quickly in case of an emergency. Maintain clear pathways throughout your home and consider the location of your decorations carefully.

• Fire Safety Measures: Keep a fire extinguisher within reach, particularly in areas where you have live flames, such as candles or fireplaces. If you plan to use candles for ambiance, consider flameless LED candles as a safe alternative. Always extinguish candles when leaving a room and keep them away from flammable decorations.

• Regularly Check Your Decor: Throughout the holiday season, take time to regularly check your decorations. Look for signs of wear and tear, particularly on light strands, and replace any damaged items promptly. Also, ensure that trees and plants are watered if they are live, preventing them from becoming dry and more fire-efficient.

The holiday season is a time of joy and celebration, and with careful planning and attention to safety, you can enjoy your decorations without worry. By following these tips for safe installation, you can create a beautiful, festive environment that is also secure for your family and guests. So take your time, be cautious, and most importantly, enjoy the magic of the holidays! Happy decorating!

The Importance of Childproofing Electrical Outlets: Keeping Our Children Safe

As parents, guardians, or caregivers, one of our foremost responsibilities is ensuring the safety of the children in our care. One area that often goes overlooked in childproofing is electrical outlets. These seemingly innocuous openings can pose serious risks for curious toddlers and young children. Understanding the importance of childproofing electrical outlets is crucial for creating a safe environment in your home.

Children are naturally curious and love to explore their environment. Outlets can attract their attention, leading to the temptation to touch or poke objects into them. This curiosity can lead to severe electrical shocks or even fatal accidents. Young children are often at a stage where they are learning to crawl, walk, and reach for things. During this exploratory phase, they might easily gain access to outlets without understanding the potential dangers. Childproofing your electrical outlets is a proactive measure that prevents accidents before they happen. Covering outlets or using tamper-resistant outlets can significantly reduce the risk of electrical injuries.

How to Childproof Electrical Outlets

Here are some effective methods for ensuring electrical outlets are safe for children:

• Use Outlet Covers: Childproof outlet covers fit securely over outlets, making them inaccessible to small fingers. Choose covers that are easy for adults to remove but difficult for children.

• Install Tamper-Resistant Outlets (TR): These modern outlets have built-in safety features that prevent the insertion of foreign objects. The outlet’s shutters only open when a two-pronged plug is inserted, making them a safe option for homes with young children. Any newly installed outlets in a living space are required to be tamper resistant so often times these are already installed. It is a good idea to verify this before opting for any other options. These outlets are marked as TR somewhere on the device so it is easy to tell what you have. 

• Educate Older Children: As children grow and become more aware of their surroundings, it’s important to educate them about electrical safety. Teach them not to touch outlets or insert objects into them.

Childproofing electrical outlets is an essential part of child safety that should never be neglected. By taking proactive steps to secure outlets, you can significantly reduce the risk of electrical accidents and create a safer environment for your children. Always stay vigilant and remind everyone in your household about the importance of electrical safety. Together, we can help foster a safe home for our little explorers.

The Importance of Working Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors in the Home

Fire safety is a critical aspect of maintaining a secure and protected household. One of the most effective safety devices you can install in your home is a working smoke detector, complemented by carbon monoxide (CO) detectors. Together, these devices form a vital safety net, safeguarding your family from multiple invisible threats.

Why Smoke and CO Detectors Matter

1. Early Warning Saves Lives
   Smoke detectors detect smoke early, often before flames are visible, giving residents precious time to evacuate. CO detectors identify the presence of carbon monoxide—a colorless, odorless, and deadly gas—before it reaches dangerous levels. Early detection of either threat can prevent injuries and fatalities.

2. Protection from Different Hazards
   While smoke detectors protect against fire hazards, CO detectors safeguard against carbon monoxide poisoning, which can occur from heating systems, fires, or appliances that produce CO. Installing both ensures comprehensive safety coverage.

3. Round-the-Clock Safety
   Both smoke and CO detectors work continuously, providing constant vigilance, especially during sleep when people are less likely to notice signs of fire or CO poisoning.

4. Affordable and Easy to Maintain
   Both types of detectors are inexpensive and simple to install. Regular maintenance—including monthly testing and annual battery replacements—keeps them functioning properly.

Best Practices for Maintaining Safety Devices

• Install smoke detectors on every level of your home, including basements and attics.

• Place detectors inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.

• Install CO detectors near bedrooms and on each level where appropriate.

• Test all detectors monthly to ensure they work correctly.

• Replace batteries at least once a year or when the detector signals low battery.

• Replace smoke and CO detectors every 7-10 years, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations.

Conclusion

Having both working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors is essential for comprehensive home safety. They provide early warnings—fire and toxic gas—that can save lives and prevent tragedies. Regular maintenance and proper placement ensure these devices are ready to protect you when needed most. Prioritize installing and maintaining these safety devices today to keep your home and loved ones safe.

Here is a link to the Utah Red Cross with some more helpful information to make sure your home is fire safe!

Home Fire Safety Campaign | Utah | Red Cross 

GFCI's what are they and where do you need them?

Hello! I am Casey, one of the owners of CMP Electric. I’ve seen firsthand how simple issues — worn cords, missing grounds, or outdated outlets — can lead to dangerous ground faults. Today I will share some common concerns and easy to do preventative measures to implement in your homes today!

Ground faults occur when electricity takes an unintended path to ground — through water, a person, or other unintended path. They can cause shocks and may start fires. GFCI outlets and breakers are designed to protect people and property from those hazards.  Here are some information and steps you can take to protect yourselves from everyday electrical hazards. .

Key risks that need GFCI protection:

• Wet areas (bathrooms, kitchens, outdoors)

• Damaged or frayed cords and appliance insulation (It's best to replace any damaged or frayed cords)

• Improperly grounded appliances or missing grounding prongs

• Faulty wiring, loose connections, or damaged outlets

Prevention steps

• Install GFCIs: Put GFCI outlets or breakers in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, basements, outdoor outlets, unfinished laundry and utility areas. Test monthly.

• Use grounded equipment: Always use three-prong plugs or properly grounded adapters; don’t remove the ground prong. With appliances use the original cord it came with and do not modify the plug or cord at any time. 

• Replace damaged cords: Stop using and replace appliances with cracked insulation, exposed wires, or burn marks.

• Keep electrical cords and equipment dry: Don’t use cords or outlets with wet hands or near sinks, tubs, or puddles. Move appliances away from water when you can.

• Avoid DIY wiring: Have a licensed electrician inspect, repair, or rewire areas with frequent tripping, shocks, or damaged electrical devices. 

• Secure connections: Tighten loose plugs and replace loose outlets; loose wiring increases ground-fault risk. If that lamp plug is hanging on for dear life and you have to replug it multiple times a day, it is time to replace the outlet. 

• If an outlet sparks, smells, or trips a GFCI or breaker repeatedly: Stop using it, unplug devices, and call an electrician.

• Keep records: Note recurring trips or repairs to show the electrician the issue pattern.

Quick homeowner checklist

• GFCIs installed and tested monthly

• Use 3 prong outlets and cords, avoid using cords that the ground prong has been removed. Except when an appliance comes with only a 2-pron cord. 

• Replace damaged cords and outlets immediately. Don't wait for an accident to become a reality. 

• Keep electrical devices away from water when possible. 

• Feel free to reach out to us to solve any problems you are concerned about.