The 3 Most Dreaded Holiday-Related Mishaps

Photo by realtor.com

With colder temperatures here, Thanksgiving this week and Christmas around the corner, we look to this realtor.com article about the three things that COULD happen and how to avoid them from happening!

1. Home fires. These fires are most often caused by faulty wiring, old appliances or cooking mistakes. But one of the biggest kitchen fire culprits is the deep fryer. If you are planning to deep fry a ham or turkey this holiday season, please make sure it is properly thawed. A frozen or partially thawed ham or turkey that is put into a deep fryer can explode sending oil splattering everywhere! This can certainly cause a fire or a bad burn. Also, make sure your holiday decorations are 3 feet from a heat source (like a fireplace) and turn off all holiday lights when you go to bed. Be sure to check your batteries in all smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.

2. Frozen or burst pipes. Be sure to leave a faucet dripping inside when you know the temperatures will be below freezing. Also, it is a good idea to insulate your pipes in garages, attics and basements.

3. Porch pirates. With more people doing their holiday shopping online, there has been a surge in stolen packages from front porches. It is advisable to install a video doorbell if you cannot be home during deliveries. You could also schedule in-store pickup or have your packages delivered to your neighbor’s address if you know you’ll be out of town. Customers who have had packages stolen after delivery from Amazon or FedEx can fill out a stolen package claim. You may be able to get a refund, depending on your claim.