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Top 10 Electrical Hazards to Avoid During the Holidays

The holidays are when many people add more to their electrical use than any other time of year. Between lights, decorations, cooking appliances, and more, there is a huge increase in crowded outlets. All that extra power comes with a significant increase in risk of electrical fire.

We want you and your family to be safe this holiday season. With that in mind, we’ve put together a list of 10 of the most common causes of electrical shock and fires during the holidays. That way you can know what to watch out for and keep a sparkling home without any sparks.

1.) Using Holiday Lights in the Wrong Location: Holiday lights are usually meant for either indoors or outdoors, and can be dangerous to use in the wrong spot. Indoor lights aren't always waterproof or resistant, which is risky in snowy weather. Outdoor lights can burn hotter and can light decorations on fire. Always check the box to see if your lights are a good fit.

2.) Using Uncertified Electrical Decorations: Because faulty electronics can be a serious fire risk, your decorations should be marked with a certification such as the Underwriters Association (UL). If your lights include the UL logo, then you can trust them to run without starting a fire. If not, they may come with a higher risk of failure.

3.) Using Damaged Extension Cords: According to the National Fire Prevention Association, extension cords were involved in more than 1,700 fires from 2015-2019. That’s why it’s crucial to check your extension cords for damage and to use the right cord for the job. For outdoor decorations, you’ll want to use a good indoor/outdoor extension cord. Avoid using any cord with visible wiring, melted insulation, or frayed casing.

4.) Plugging Too Many Decorations into 1 Outlet: Multiple decorations or devices plugged into a single outlet risk overloading it. That can cause excess heat to build up in the wiring behind your wall without you even noticing. It’s a good idea to space out your decorations and only use power strips that are new and in good repair.

5.) Leaving Your Lights on All the Time: It’s a good idea to run your lights only when someone is home and awake to monitor them. If you leave your holiday lights on while no one is around, then no one is there to notice if something goes wrong. Never sleep with your Christmas tree lit, because everyone in the home could be in serious danger if a fire starts while everyone is asleep.

6.) Using Damaged or Worn-Out Decorations:  Just like everything else, holiday decorations wear out over time or can get damaged during use. That damage can come with a significant risk to your home and family. That’s why it’s wise to replace your Christmas lights every 4-6 years and throw out any decorations with exposed wiring or other signs of damage.

7.) Using Obsolete Lights: Most older lights use incandescent bulbs, which aren’t as efficient as modern LED bulbs. On top of needing more power for each string of lights, incandescent bulbs run hotter as they lose excess energy. That means they have a much higher chance of causing a fire if dry pine needles or paper decorations rest of the bulbs.

8.) Connecting Too Many Cords: Each time you add a string of lights to the end of another, it increases the amount of power running through them all. String too many together at once, and you risk overloading the lights. In general, you should avoid stringing more than three strands of incandescent lights together end-to-end, and more than 15 strands of LEDs.

9.) Leaving Cords in Risky Places: It can be a nightmare finding an outlet close to where you want to decorate. Sometimes that means an extension cord can wind around a corner or across a hall where people can trip or small children or pets can get at them. It’s crucial to pay attention to where your cords end up so you can avoid dangerous situations like these.

10.) Damaging Your Lights While Setting Them Up:Many people use nails or staples to help set up their holiday lights. Never actually pierce or pinch the cord with a staple or a nail. For safety, keep the cord’s insulation intact. There are inexpensive specialty mounting options available that allow you to place your lights where you want them without causing any damage to the cords.

We hope that you and your family are safe this holiday season. If you have any questions or concerns as you are decorating this year, Any Hour Services would be happy to help. One of our licensed electricians can inspect your electrical system and holiday lights to help you know if there are any concerns. You can give us a call or book an appointment online.
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Logo for Any Hour Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Air featuring a smiling technician with crossed arms, a stopwatch, and a bold, professional tone.

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1374 West 130 South, Orem, UT 84058

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Before we price your drains or excavation project, our expert technician will perform an in-home assessment to evaluate the tasks required. We only charge for what’s necessary—no fluff, no extra costs. This allows us to pinpoint areas where we can save you money without sacrificing quality.

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You can pay for your service with cash, check, or any major credit card. We collect, in full, upon completion of the project. If you would like to make monthly payments, we have many financing options available through 3rd party finance companies (On Approved Credit). Your technician can talk to you about your options when they give you pricing options for the work you want done.

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Our phone staff are not expert technicians, so they can’t quote prices that would be accurate to your project’s needs. A trained technician needs to see the job firsthand to give you a clear, upfront price. Quotes over the phone are a guess, and we prefer transparency over uncertainty.

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Ballpark prices can be misleading. Until we see the job, we can’t quote your final estimate accurately. Other companies may give an estimate range, but that often leads to additional costs and surprises later. Instead, we focus on giving you a fair price once a trained technician can assess the job properly.

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Pricing FAQ

A:

Our pricing is fair and transparent. We use a fixed-price guide that reflects the time, materials, and real costs of running a dependable home services business. No hourly rates. No inflated prices based on where you live. We focus on what it takes to get the job done—not on how much we can charge.

Before we price your plumbing job, our licensed plumber will perform an in-home assessment to evaluate the tasks required. We only charge for what’s necessary—no fluff, no extra costs. This allows us to pinpoint areas where we can save you money without sacrificing quality.

Call Now

A:

We price the job—not the clock. Hourly rates can be unpredictable, leaving you unsure of the final cost until the job is done. We believe in upfront, fixed pricing based on the work itself—not guesswork. You won’t pay for delays or mistakes, and we hold ourselves accountable to ensure there are no surprises.

Call Now

A:

We prefer to price based on the job and not what other companies charge. Hourly rates can lead to unexpected costs for homeowners, making the final price unpredictable. By pricing the work itself, we make sure you’re only paying for what’s actually needed—keeping things fair and efficient.

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Water heater replacements vary. Often, older units require updates to meet safety standards. Common items missing from many water heaters are flexible gas lines, expansion tanks, earthquake straps, gas sediment trap, upgrade exhaust venting, etc.

For an accurate quote, one of our licensed plumbers will inspect your existing system and provide a FREE estimate.

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Our phone staff are not licensed plumbers, so they can’t quote prices that would be accurate to your project’s needs. A trained plumber needs to see the job firsthand to give you a clear, upfront price. Quotes over the phone are a guess, and we prefer transparency over uncertainty.

Call Now

A:

Ballpark prices can be misleading. Until we see the job, we can’t quote your final estimate accurately. Other companies may give an estimate range, but that often leads to additional costs and surprises later. Instead, we focus on giving you a fair price once a licensed plumber can assess the job properly.

Call Now

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We have a small dispatch fee to send our plumber to your home. They’ll arrive in a truck stocked with thousands of parts, ready to complete most jobs the same day. After a thorough evaluation, your plumber will explain the issue, walk you through the recommended fix, and show you your options and final price. No hourly rates. No surprises. Just a clear, upfront price before any work begins.

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Yes! We offer FREE in-home estimates for major projects like water heater installations, water softeners, and repiping—without any dispatch fee. Our licensed plumber will assess the job, explain your options, and provide a clear, fixed price. No surprises or hourly rates—just honest, reliable service. Schedule your FREE estimate today!

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No, our plumbers don’t quote a price until they have seen your plumbing project. Once they quote a price, it doesn’t change, no matter how long it takes. At any time, if you want to add more tasks to your plumbing project, your plumber will let you know how much it would cost to perform the extra work.

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You can pay for your plumbing service with cash, check, or any major credit card. We collect, in full, upon completion of the project. If you would like to make monthly payments, we do have many financing options available through 3rd party finance companies, OAC. Your plumber can talk to you about your options when they give you pricing options for the work you want completed.

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