Electrical Safety at Home This Christmas
Are you taking dangerous risks with your safety during the festive period? Be sure to follow our tips while fitting your Christmas lights!
Christmas is a magical, bright and fun time of the year. Each year, many of us are eager to get into the Christmas spirit and adorn our home in pretty flashing lights, copious amounts of tinsel, decorative snowflakes, shining stars, happy snowmen, colourful and snowy christmas trees, and even festive signage asking Santa to: “please stop here!”.
The true Christmas fanatics among us take this one step further, and decorate the exterior of their homes with Christmas lighting – I mean, it won’t be Christmas without some light-hearted, fun, neighbourly, competitive lighting and decor. Here at First Strike Electrical, we have collated some simple electrical safety tips to make sure you’re safe while putting up Christmas lights, decorations and lighting fittings inside and outside of your home this year.
Too many Christmas lights are dangerous
It is easy to get carried away decorating when you’re feeling the Christmas spirit. But, putting up too many lights and decorations is not a great idea. That doesn’t mean you can’t have Christmas lights, you can, just don’t go overboard.
Limit the amount of plugs per socket
When putting up your Christmas lights, it is important to remember to limit the amount of plugs per socket. Overloading is dangerous and can lead to the wall socket overheating and possibly cause a fire.
Switch lights off when they aren’t needed
Much like regular lighting in your home, when they are not needed, turn them off. It is always advisable to also make sure they are switched off at the wall too. Leaving your Christmas lights on overnight could create a fire hazard, as it could potentially endanger other households and overheat.
Make sure old lighting is safe to use
Re-using Christmas lights is something we all do, particularly if we’re on a budget. But, as lighting decorations may have been stored away for the past year, and as they haven’t been used in awhile, they will need to be checked thoroughly before use. If you are in any doubt about the quality, it is always best to throw them away and purchase new ones.
Choose low voltage and/ or LED lights
If you’re looking to buy new Christmas lights this year, look out for ones that have extra low voltage options with LEDs. LED lights reduce the risk of electric shock, use less power and generate less heat, meaning they are less expensive and safer to use compared to other bulbs. As they save energy, they are a great way to be more environmentally friendly as well as helping you save on energy bills.
‘Real’ Christmas trees
Deciding to have a ‘real’ Christmas tree is a popular choice, particularly when you want to turn your home into a winter wonderland. However, did you know that these are more likely to catch fire a lot quicker than an artificial one? If you do have a real Christmas tree this year, make sure you keep it watered (don’t let it dry out!); don’t spray hairspray on the pine needles to stop them dropping (it’s very flammable!); keep it away from heat sources such as radiators and portable heaters; and, lastly, make sure you Christmas lights are safe!
Getting ready for Christmas parties
With numerous Christmas parties and celebrations happening this time of year, it is easier to get carried away in the excitement when we’re getting ready to leave – this can mean leaving electrical devices turned on, such as hair straighteners. Before you leave, switch them off and put them away.
Contact Us
If you are based in London and worried about faulty electrics, or you encounter an electrical problem at your home, please contact our expert team on 0203 633 4536 or fill out our online contact form and one of our team will be in touch.
