The Christmas carols are already playing nonstop in shopping malls and on the radio. Before you know it, Christmas day will arrive. Whether that means flying off to visit far-flung friends and relatives, or inviting the extended family into your own home, follow these tips to have a meaningful, and safe, holiday season.

Your Christmas Tree 

The tree is the monument around which many families' Christmas celebrations revolve. But beware-- every year an average of 210 homes experience fires caused by their tree, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

To avoid becoming an unhappy statistic, look for a tree with fresh needles that isn't dried out, and place it in an area clear of any heat sources. Use LED light strands, which produce very little heat, and never hang actual candles from the tree. Dispose of it after Christmas once it starts getting dry and the needles are falling off. If you use an artificial tree, make sure it is labeled “fire resistant.” 

You also want to ensure the tree is set up securely. At best, a fallen Christmas tree is a shame, and at worst it could cause a hazard, possibly knocking over other items and leaving broken glass, frayed wires, spilled water in its wake.

Don't forget about wire safety. Make sure that none of the cords to your lights are frayed and the plugs are in good working order. Try to avoid an extension cord, but if one is necessary inspect it as well, and ensure it doesn't present a tripping hazard in your house. Finally, don't overload a single outlet with too many lights or you can risk tripping the circuit or even  creating a fire hazard. 

Candles

Candles are an important part of many family holiday decorations, and not just for Christmas. The menorah is a centerpiece of the eight-day Hanukkah celebration, with a new candle lit each day. And people who observe Kwanza light candles to commemorate seven principles of African heritage. Whatever religious or secular tradition you follow, candles bring warmth and light to stave off the darkness of winter. 

While the candles are beautiful and significant, their open flame can also be dangerous to people, pets and your home. For safety, lit candles should never be left unattended, and never placed in an area where a child or pet could get burned or knock them over. Also make sure they aren't near any flammable material like curtains.

If you want to make a semi-permanent window scene for the holiday, it's better to get an electric menorah or other display, and save the real candles for a supervised  and temporary ceremony. 

In the Kitchen

The same precautions that apply to candles also apply to gas stoves and their open flames. Take care that guests don’t bump into the stove or hot pots and pans. Also, some cultures call for fried foods, such as the Hanukkah tradition of frying potato latkes and jelly doughnuts. Enjoy the delicious meals but be careful not to splash cooking oil around the kitchen, which is another fire hazard.

Your Outdoor Display 

It's fun to turn your yard into a scene from the North Pole. Just make sure that any lights and other equipment is rated for outdoor use and won't short out in a snow or rainstorm. As with indoor lights, inspect the cords for any damage and discard those that aren't in top shape. If you need an extension cord, make sure it's rated for the outdoors as well, and don't let it run through puddles or across walkways.

With just minor precautions, you can ensure a safe holiday season focused on family and tradition.

When you sit in the den to read a good book, you probably want some soft lighting to do so by. You don’t want harsh, bright overheads sending a glaring reflection off of the page back into your eyes. Of course, you could use a lamp to read by. However, we suggest that you speak with a member of our staff about dimmer switches and softer overhead lighting options. That way you can enjoy the convenience of overhead lighting without the headaches – figurative and literal – of harsh reading light.

Cooking a nice dinner for the family can be a fun affair. It can also be rather hectic, with timers going off and sauces to keep an eye on, not to mention the action on the cutting board. If your kitchen is not well-lit, there is no way that you can hope to go about your business safely. Under cabinet lighting and adjustable track lighting can give you what you need to see precisely what you’re doing when working in the kitchen.

Some people forget that lighting can be as much about fashion as it is about function. Illuminating original artworks, photography pieces, or even unique architectural flourishes can be a great way to class up your home. We have the right indoor lighting solutions for any such purposes.

Often times people put off having their electrical work done because they assume that it is going to be a very expensive process. They run extension cords here and there, and try to make the best of things, hoping eventually to have the cash to revamp the system, have a system upgrade or two done and some electrical rewiring, maybe even whole house rewiring. However, it really isn’t necessary to take that inconvenient, perhaps even hazardous, approach. You can consult with a professional electrician in Glendale CA and find a better way to restore your electrical system to maximum functionality and safety.

Choose a reputable electrical contracting company, one that’s been around a while and has lots of experience, like the Electric Connection. They’ve been working in the area for more than three decades, and have a solid reputation built on the successful completion of a broad range of commercial and residential electrical projects. Invest a little bit in scheduling a consultation visit, and get a good grasp of exactly what is going on with your residential electrical system and make a full list of what the problems are. Your electrician Glendale CA Electric Connection technician will be happy to help you organize that list by which repairs should be considered high priority and which can wait a little while.

Then, you and your Glendale electrician can devise a service plan that works with your budget, breaking down that list into manageable pieces, such as specific electrical upgrade projects, panel upgrades, and electrical rewiring projects. The Electric Connection offers a variety of specials and discount coupons, so when making your electrical system maintenance and repair plans, be sure to factor those in, planning tasks at times that will allow you to take advantage of those savings. Then, piece by piece, project by project, you’ll improve the safety and function of your electrical system, and soon be able to put away those extension cords and other makeshift implements.

The Electric Connection places a high priority on superior customer service. They want to help you get the electrical system you need for your home to be as safe as possible. They offer a free home electrical safety assessment with every job they do. They offer a wealth of troubleshooting, maintenance and repair tips on their web site. They even offer free electrical help over the telephone, as well as free over the phone estimates based upon your description of the electrical symptoms you are seeing or the work that you are seeking a Glendale Electrician for.

Furthermore, the offer a lifetime guarantee on all of their work. They expect that an electrician in Glendale CA that comes from the Electric Connection will behave in a professional manner at all times, working efficiently for the benefit of their customers. If you schedule an electrical service call with one of their electricians, if your technician arrive even just one short minute late, that electrical call is yours for free. This demanding standard is a clear demonstration of the high standards the company has for their employees, and you can trust that they hire the best.

Don’t take chances with something as potentially dangerous as electrical problems. Broken wires behind walls can cause fires. Shorts in electrical wiring can damage expensive electronics. It is possible to restore your electrical system to full function and safety, and even to make the improvements that you’ve been wishfully thinking about in an affordable manner. It just takes a little planning and prioritizing, which is exactly the type of quality customer service that a Glendale electrician from the Electric Connection specializes in.

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solar lights to our online store, and there are a handful that I’ve been ogling since the day they took residence on our site. In a strictly professional quest to gain a better understanding of our product offerings (wink, wink) I requested some products for thorough evaluation. The first item to take the spotlight: The Solar LED White Washed Metal Lantern:

The Nitty Gritty:

This lantern would be an attractive addition to just about any style or decor. Use it with a beachy/coastal home or a rustic mountain cabin. I probably wouldn’t choose it as a decoration for an ultra-modern home, as it has a very vintage look.