Between sipping wine by the fire and decorating the tree with multicoloured lights, Christmas is everyone’s favourite time of year.
But with all that festive cheer, comes an increased risk of fires.
With this in mind, the Alan Boswell Landlord Building Insurance experts sought to reveal their top tips to avoid fires this Christmas and help you celebrate safely!
1. Be careful with open flames
Candles are aesthetically pleasing, especially at Christmas, but always ensure open flames are out of reach of children and pets and place them on fireproof materials such as stone. Opting for battery-powered candles around your home can also be beneficial, especially around flammable items like Christmas trees and plants.
2. Keep your Christmas tree watered
For those opting for real trees, make sure to keep them hydrated – a dry Christmas tree is highly flammable. Trim your trunk as you would with fresh flowers and place your tree in a bucket of water when you first get it. Remember to check the water level every couple of days to avoid it drying out.
3. Tidy home, safe home!
Making your home feel like a grotto is a tremendous Christmas-time tradition but resist over-cluttering your mantelpiece, especially with flammable decorations like paper banners or tinsel. Likewise, never run cables underneath flammable items such as rugs or carpets. Items like wrapping paper are also extremely flammable, so pick them up after Christmas morning!
4. Avoid cooking while wearing that baggy Christmas jumper
Whilst food is a big deal at Christmas, with kitchens full of yummy food and delicious home-cooking scents, keep in mind to avoid wearing loose clothing when cooking, especially around an open-flame stove cooker and never leave your cooking unattended.
5. Double check everything is off when not needed
Christmas is a busy time of year, but always remember to double-check all your cooking appliances and electrical decorations, including Christmas lights, are turned off before going to bed or leaving the house. Setting timers on your devices will also help to keep costs low this Christmas, too.
These tips have been provided by https://www.alanboswell.com/landlord-insurance/landlord-building-insurance/
