- November 16, 2023
- Residential Services
Christmas is just around the corner, and it’s time to start thinking about decorating the home. But before you hang up a million fairy lights and deck the halls with holly, spend a bit of time considering electrical safety.
With so many lights around, as well as added risks like Christmas trees in the home, it’s worth planning your electrical safety.
Accidents can and do happen, from electric shocks to fires, so don’t let anything spoil your festive cheer. Here are some of the main things to consider this Christmas to make sure you and your family stay safe.
Carefully Inspect All Electrical Decorations
Whether you’re buying some new lights or reusing the lights you bought five years ago that have been sitting in the Christmas box for the last year, always spend a bit of time inspecting them before you put them up.
Damaged electrical decorations can pose a fire risk, so look for obvious signs of damage before using them.
This could include frayed wires, damaged plugs, loose connections and anything that doesn’t look quite right. These could easily pose a fire or shock risk, so never use any decorations that are damaged.
If you’re buying new decorations, make sure you get them from trusted retailers. Cheap Christmas decorations without any safety certifications should be avoided.
And wherever you buy your decorations, read the manufacturers’ instructions carefully before using them.
Plan Your Christmas Lights
Before you put up any lights, create a plan. Set out the lights you will use and where you will hang them, and then map it out.
One of the most important things to take into consideration is how many plug sockets you have and where they are located. Ideally, you want to avoid using lots of multi-socket extensions where you end up plugging five strings of lights into the same socket.
Consider the loads that are already placed on your circuits. If you plan to use extension cords, which is likely, make sure you won’t overburden them.
Outdoor lights are a big part of Christmas, but you should be especially careful when you plan where you will hang them. Look out for hazards like cables and tree branches that could cause damage.
If you plan to add more lights than your current system can handle, this might be time to install new sockets in your home or upgrade the consumer unit so you can add all the lights you want.
For outdoor lights, you might want to install an exterior socket to ensure the lights are safe to use. Get in touch with the team at Energize Electrical to help with either of these tasks.
Be Careful with Outdoor Lighting
Whether you’re planning to put up a single decoration outside the front door, or you’re planning to turn your home into a Santa’s grotto, take special care with outdoor lighting.
First, only use lighting that is specifically designed for outdoor use. Indoor and outdoor lights look similar and essentially do the same thing, but you cannot use them interchangeably.
Outdoor lights need to withstand the cold and rain, and indoor lights won’t last long outdoors and can pose a hazard.
Don’t use outdoor lights indoors either. Outdoor lights can get too hot when used indoors, which could be dangerous. Any extension cords you use should also be safe for outdoor use.
Christmas Tree Care
As mentioned, avoid hanging outdoor lights on Christmas trees, and use indoor LED Christmas lights instead.
You have to be even more careful with real Christmas trees because they can catch fire more easily than artificial ones. If you have a real tree, water it well so it doesn’t get too dry. Please ensure that your smoke alarms are in good working order and if you live in Scotland you need interlinked smoke alarms.
Be Careful with Extension Cords
Always use the right types of cords that are suitable for indoor or outdoor use, depending on where you plan to use them.
Don’t position the cords near heat sources or attach them to the wall using staples. And watch out for trip hazards – don’t let them go across the room or across doorways.
Don’t Leave Lights On Overnight
Christmas lights look spectacular, but get into the habit of turning them off at night and when you go out.
The risk of fire goes up when no one is about to spot problems. Lights can overheat, so only keep them on when you are at home and awake.
Enjoy a Safe and Happy Christmas
If you’re getting ready to decorate your home for Christmas, take some time to plan. In all the excitement, it’s easy to simply start putting everything up right away and getting into the festive spirit.
Go over the considerations above and spend some time planning your decorations. Take all the necessary precautions, and make sure you stay safe this Christmas.