While decorations are not typically deemed as the cause of adversity, Christmas trees are exquisite because of their extremely flammable nature. When mixed with electrical sparks or overheating cords, a dry Christmas tree could turn into a roaring house fire in less than a minute. On the authority of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), home fires started by Christmas trees average 200 per year. Every year, these fires cause an average of $14.8 million in property damage, 16 injuries, and 6 deaths.
You as a property owner, it’s a must that you provide basic fire safety tips to your renters even before the holiday season hash out. And while prohibiting Christmas trees altogether is mediated as not the preference, there are still unambiguous notions that your tenants can do to get themselves and your rental home away from the risk of fire.
The American Christmas Tree Association (ACTA) recommends quite a few safety precautions that can substantially limit the exposedness of your tree catching fire. These precautions include:
- Shop for fresh (real) tree or an artificial tree. Fresh trees are steadier because of their inherent fire resistance. Artificial trees are also much safer than real trees and that’s because they don’t usually dry out over time.
- Take good care of your fresh tree consistently by watering them daily. Fresh trees must be watered redundantly and taken away shortly after the holiday or once you observed that its needles begin to drop.
- Make sure to put your tree far from heat sources and open flames, like fireplaces, candles and heat vents.
- Always consider safety-tested lights and throw out any damaged light sets.
- Turn off the Christmas tree lights before you go to bed or when you’re planning to leave your home. Leaving the lights on all night or while away increases your risk of fire.
- A fresh fire extinguisher should always be available whenever needed especially in the event that sparks or flames do appear.
Making sure to convey these Christmas tree safety tips with your tenants in Granada Hills can help them care for your rental homes and support everybody delights in a safe and peaceful holiday. With Real Property Management West San Fernando Valley guiding you, we can vouch that these safety precautions are pass on to your renters and that all holiday decorations meet basic safety guidelines. For more information about our full-service property management services, please contact us online or call us at 818-727-0100.