There’s a chill in the air and that can only mean one thing in Florida… The holidays are upon us!  It’s December already and that means it’s time for family, fun, and decorating.  We know just how enjoyable the holiday season is and even if we aren’t getting snow in Florida it’s still an exciting time.  We want to make sure that your holidays are as safe as they are fun so here are a couple of considerations from the Pat Myers team for your home electrical during the holiday season.

Space Heater Comfort and Safety

When the weather gets cold there is nothing quite as comforting as a space heater set up to warm your house.  A space heater is a great option in Florida when the weather gets cold and you don’t have a fireplace or don’t want to spend money to heat the whole house.  One thing to keep in mind is that while many space heaters tout themselves as energy efficient they use a lot of electricity.  A space heater can create electrical issues like overdrawing a circuit, tripping a breaker, and causing you to lose power.  We see it every single year!

Here’s a quick tip: consult an electrician who can evaluate how many amps the heater will be drawing.  The electrician can confirm if the space heater will need its own dedicated circuit and breaker in the panel.  This can save you time and trouble in the future and keep you safe.  If you do find yourself with a space heater issue make sure to unplug it first. Then you can try to reset the breaker.  While frustrating, it’s good news that the breaker is doing its job.  You’ll then want to consider contacting your local electrician to come out and troubleshoot for any underlying causes.

Keep Your Lights Safe and Bright

When the lights go up around the house that’s the true sign that the holidays are here.  We want those lights to be a source of joy, but every year we get a call from homeowners with lights causing them far more stress.  One common scenario is that a homeowner may have multiple extension cords and strings of lights plugged in on the exterior of their home. When the sprinklers run, or if it rains, the connecting areas or the outlet itself may get wet and this trips the GFCI, shutting down the power.  GFCI stands for “ground fault circuit interrupter,” and these outlets are designed to prevent unintentional electrocution by shutting themselves off if they sense an overdraw.  According to NEC code, all damp locations such as exterior outlets must be GFCI protected.

We recommend that any exterior outlet has a well fitting in-use bubble style cover.  This can reduce excess moisture entering the receptacles and causing nuisance tripping.  A licensed electrician can check over your receptacles and replace these covers as needed, as well as perform a test on each GFCI outlet in your home to make sure it has not become defective over time and is still tripping as it should when necessary.

From the Pat Myers Family to Yours, “Happy Holidays!”

Here at Pat Myers Electric, we love the holidays as much as you do!  We want you to be able to enjoy spending the holidays with your friends, family, and loved ones.  If you have concerns about your home’s electrical or if you have already been having issues and need assistance contact us today.  We’re happy to help with any electrical issues over the holiday season, or just answer any questions you may have.