Bright Insurance Blog

Does your family celebrate Christmas? Now is a great time to put up the tree! If you are preparing your home for the holidays, it is important to remember a few safety precautions, especially when it comes to your Christmas tree. If you are not careful, you could face an unexpected fire. Thankfully, your Massachusetts homeowners insurance will be there to cover the damages if need be.

However, coverage or no coverage, you still need to be careful! Here are a few safety tips:

#1: Secure your tree in a stand. Make sure your tree is cut properly and fits in a durable stand. The last thing you want is to wake up and see your tree going through a nearby window.

#2: Find a safe place. Make sure you place your tree at least three feet away from any flames or heat source.

#3: Make sure your lights are safe. Always check your lights for any broken or cracked bulbs, frays in the wiring or even gaps in the insulation. Any small issue can serve as a fire hazard on the tree.

#4: Water your tree every day. A dry tree will catch fire much easier than a healthy and well-watered one. Make sure you take care of it!

#5: Avoid candles like the plague. Have you ever seen those trees that have candles resting on their branches? How dangerous! This is NEVER a good idea, no matter how cool it looks on television.

#6: Turn off the lights when you are away. If you are not home or even sleeping, be sure to turn off the lights on the tree. Not only does it waste electricity, but it serves as a hazard as well.

With these few Christmas tree safety tips, you will be avoiding a holiday disaster. However, all the safety tips in the world cannot stop the unexpected, 100% of the time. As long as your Massachusetts homeowners insurance is up to date and ready for the worst, you will not be paying thousands out of your pocket to fix any damages. A typical policy will cover: the structure of your home, liability, personal possessions, replacement costs and additional living expenses.

Don’t let a Christmas tree mishap put a damper on your holiday cheer!