November 10, 2026

Keep your holidays bright, warm and safe

Twinkling lights. Holiday meals. A warm home filled with family and friends. They’re all part of what makes the season special, and a little preparation can help keep the celebrations safe.

Christmas tree with out of focus house with lights on it

As you get your home holiday ready, keep these simple safety tips in mind. Simple steps can help protect your home and family while decorating, entertaining and staying warm during this holiday season.

Make decorating safe and simpler
Holiday lights and decorations help make the season feel special. As they come out of storage, it’s worth giving light strands, plugs and extension cords a quick look for frayed wires, cracked sockets, loose connections or broken bulbs. For outdoor displays, look for products rated for outdoor use and connections that can stay dry and clear of snow and standing water.

A few other things to keep in mind as you decorate:

  • Give outlets some breathing room. Too many plugs, extension cords or power strips connected together can create a safety risk. Space heaters are safest when plugged directly into a wall outlet.
  • Watch the heat. Christmas trees, garlands, wrapping paper and other decorations can heat up quickly when they’re too close to fireplaces, furnaces, space heaters, candles or cooking appliances.
  • Take a look up before decorating outside. If ladders or long strands of lights are part of your decorating plans, be aware of nearby overhead power lines and give them plenty of space.
  • Give the lights a rest, too. Switching off or unplugging decorative lights when everyone heads to bed or leaves home is an easy way to wrap up the day safely.

A few reminders for a warm, safe home
Colder weather often means more cooking and more time spent keeping the house warm. It’s also a good time to be familiar with the signs of a natural gas leak and ways to reduce the risk of carbon monoxide in your home.

A rotten-egg odor or hissing sound near natural gas equipment could signal a gas leak. If that happens, the safest choice is to leave the area immediately and call Ameren from a safe location upwind. Avoid using switches, phones, appliances or anything else that could create a spark near the suspected leak.

Carbon monoxide detectors add another important layer of protection during heating season. Regular testing, keeping combustible materials away from natural gas appliances and having fuel-burning appliances inspected by a qualified professional can help keep your home safer. A natural gas range or oven should never be used to heat a home.

And when the snow starts piling up, natural gas equipment needs a little breathing room, too. A broom can be used to gently clear snow and ice from meters, piping, appliance vents, chimneys and flues. Keeping holiday decorations clear of meters and other utility equipment also helps ensure they remain accessible.

Getting your home ready for holiday guests
Between cooking, decorating and getting ready for company, there’s a lot happening around the house during the holidays. A quick check of smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, along with clear walkways and a familiar household emergency plan, can help everyone enjoy the season with a little more peace of mind.

Find more tips to help keep your home and family safe at Ameren.com/Safety.