halloween Archives | Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air

How to Prevent an Electrical Scare This Halloween

Tips to Avoid Electrical Problems While Decorating for Halloween and the Holidays

Though Thanksgiving is the official start of the holiday season, Halloween is the unofficial start where outdoor lighting and decor start. Whether it’s string lighting or flashing lanterns, homeowners frequently use more electricity for decorations from now until the end of the year. To avoid electrical hazards while decorating, here are a few tips to help keep the neighborhood safe.

Use Safe Holiday Decorations

How decorations are used and the condition of the decorations matter significantly for safety. Checking the cords and wiring is essential before hanging or using electric holiday decor and lights. Frayed or damaged ones are considered a safety hazard and should not be used.

Homeowners should always avoid using staple guns and nails to hang holiday lights and electric decorations. These can cut into the cords and damage the wiring, creating a potential fire hazard. Draping lights along designated hooks is much more safe. Additionally, homeowners should be careful that outside holiday decorations and lights are meant for outdoor use since rain and the elements are a factor.

Decorate Safely for the Holidays

Decorating homes with lights and other electrical decor during Halloween and the holidays is a fun tradition, but it's important to remember the potential dangers of overloading outlets. Most overloaded circuits are caused by trying to draw too much power from a single outlet, which can lead to overheating and even fires.

The best way to avoid overloading outlets is by spreading out the power draw. This means plugging devices into different outlets and not relying on just one outlet or circuit to power all the holiday lights and decorations. If homeowners find that all the holiday decorations are causing an overload on a single outlet or circuit, it's time to relocate some of them. Spread the power draw by plugging in lights and decor into different outlets to reach other circuits. It may require some extra effort, but it's worth it for the home's safety.

Some Signs Electrical Repair May Be Necessary

In addition to checking the cords and wires and decorating for the holidays safely, homeowners should be aware of signs they need electrical service to keep their homes safe this Halloween and beyond. Electrical repairs are an essential aspect of maintaining a safe and functional home. It is crucial to pay attention to any signs that indicate potential electrical problems, as they can quickly escalate into dangerous situations if left unaddressed.

Some common signs electrical repair may be needed are if homeowners notice lights flickering or becoming dim, damaged, cracked, or charred outlets, breakers or fuses are constantly tripping or blowing, or a burning smell. A trained electrician can resolve the problem causing these symptoms and improve home safety so homeowners don’t have to be worried about an electrical scare this Halloween.

About Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air

Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air has more than 30 years of expertise serving Port St. Lucie and the surrounding areas. They provide upfront pricing, on-time arrival, and 24/7 emergency service. Call them today for electrical services in Port St. Lucie, FL.

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3 Safety Tips For Halloween Decorating

Halloween Decor Electrical Safety

An electrical fire is the wrong kind of scary for Halloween decorating! Halloween decorating with inflatables, lights, and electric yard decor can be fun and safe when done responsibly. Homeowners can use these three tips from electrical experts to practice good electrical safety when decorating for Halloween this year.

Whether going all out for Halloween or just putting up a few simple decorations, homeowners should always take safety precautions to ensure their decorations are not an electrical hazard. Using the wrong type of electrical decorations outdoors can be a safety hazard because water and electricity do not mix well. Putting too much strain on the home’s electrical system can also cause dangerous power surges.

Inspect Halloween Inflatables and Lights

Before plugging in any Halloween decorations, even if they are brand new from the store, homeowners should inspect them for any signs of damage. The decoration could be unexpectedly damaged in storage by rodents or water. Plugging in decorations with damaged cords could cause an accidental electrical shock.

Homeowners should pay attention to signs of faulty wiring, such as sparks, a burning smell, or flickering lights coming from the decoration. Ignoring the warning signs of damaged electrical Halloween decorations could come back to haunt homeowners. Larger decorations that use more electricity should always be carefully inspected for safety before use.

Be Strategic When Plugging In Halloween Decorations

Homeowners need to be strategic about where they plug in their Halloween decorations. Outlets and power strips should never be overloaded, and power strips should not be plugged into another power strip. Overloading can cause an electrical fire.

Homeowners should also be careful about plugging in outdoor decorations. Yard decorations will be exposed to rain, wind, and other weather that could be hazardous if water reaches the electrical wiring. To avoid an electrical emergency, homeowners should only use yard decorations designed to be placed outdoors.

Plugging yard decorations into the right kind of outlet is also essential for electrical safety. GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) electrical outlets are required outdoors and in rooms with water sources to protect residents from electrocution. Outdoor outlets need to be covered from the rain and kept free of debris.

Surge Protectors

Overloading the electrical outlets by plugging in too many decorations can be a safety hazard. When too much electricity is in the home’s electrical system, the circuits can overheat and cause an electrical fire. The home’s breaker box will typically shut off power to the house to prevent a fire.

Having too many electrical decorations plugged in at once can cause the breaker to flip. So how can homeowners safely go all out with Halloween decorations without causing a power surge? Using surge protectors to plug in Halloween decorations helps prevent electricity from overloading outlets.

Homeowners can install whole-home surge protectors to protect their homes from power surges. There are also plug-in surge protectors that can be added to outlets. Homeowners should consult a trusted local electrician for personalized opinions on what type of outlets and surge protectors are the best for their home safety.

About Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air

Elite Electric, Plumbing & Air has over 30 years of experience serving its neighbors in Port St. Lucie, FL, and the surrounding areas. They provide upfront pricing, on-time arrival, and personal attention. Call them today for electrical services in Port St. Lucie, FL.

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Tips to Create Shocking Electrician Costumes For Halloween

Electrical Costumes!

October is one of the best months of the year. With hayrides, pumpkin carvings, fall colors, and not to mention, Halloween, it’s no wonder October is so fun! With Halloween just around the corner, people are conjuring up their best costume ideas ever.

While there are plenty of people who stick with the traditional monster or superhero costumes, why not try to think outside the box for some shocking fun! To stop people in their tracks, try out one of these five shocking electrician costumes this year.

The Classic Shocked Electrician

A shocked electrician is a go-to electrical costume and can be so much fun to make. All of the hair and makeup details really test people’s creativity. Rubbing dark makeup all over the face can be pretty a pretty shocking detail, along with a messy wig. Use older jeans to add “burn marks” to them, and then add a toolbelt for the final detail.

Shocking Fact: A spark of static electricity can measure up to 3,000 volts. A spark between two people can feel just as powerful. Talk about a connection!

Easy-Peasy Baby Costume

Dressing kids in costumes can be a hassle, so let them do one of their favorite things: get messy! Have them rub some dirt or makeup on their face, mess up their hair, or even rip up an old t-shirt, it's one of the easiest baby costume ideas! The only downside is the dirty tub that parents will have to clean the next day.

Shocking Fact: For the parents with kids that never stop asking questions, they might ask why birds sitting on power lines don’t get electrocuted. If a bird sits on one power line, it is safe. However, if it touches another line at the same time, it creates an electric circuit and causes electrocution.

Light Bulb Moment

Not everyone has great ideas all of the time, but when they do, they want to show it to the world. That’s what people like to call a “light bulb moment.” So get into it! Find a shiny material to decorate the body of the costume and add a giant light bulb to go over the head. If people are feeling really creative, they might use glow-in-the-dark material to make the bulb light up!

Shocking Fact: While “light bulb moments” occur in peoples’ minds, humans also have electricity flowing throughout their bodies. Human bodies use small electrical pulses to make the heartbeat and pump blood.

T-Shirts Fit Every Occasion

For the jaded ones who just need a costume to get into a party, a simple t-shirt can do the trick. Sometimes simplicity is best, and a t-shirt with an electric outlet will suffice as an electrical costume. Time to get lit!

Shocking Fact: Electric vehicles are increasing in popularity, and so are the electric charging stations that keep them running. In the US there are over 20,000 public charging stations and over 57,000 public charging outlets for plug-in vehicles!

Glowing Doggy Costume

Halloween is a time for everyone to dress up, including furry friends! Electrical costumes don’t always have to be about an electrician but can be about other electrical products or tools. For example, adding a light bulb to a pumpkin for a ghost dog costume is quite shocking!

Shocking Fact: Only about 10% of energy in a light bulb is used to create light. The rest creates heat!

About Elite Electric & Air

For over 30 years, Elite Electric & Air has helped homeowners and business owners throughout Port St. Lucie, FL with their indoor maintenance needs. They strive to keep their customers’ heating, cooling and electrical systems working flawlessly all year. From the tools and materials used to their rigorous training regimen, they have built a business that excels in every way.