It is that time of year again, when the majority of us are starting to think about Christmas and decorating the house for the festive season. Over the coming weeks fairy lights and illuminations will be dragged out of storage areas and plugged into overloaded sockets, which could potentially lead to a scene in your home close to that from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.
This can be avoided by following some simple do’s and don’t as advised by Electrical Safety First.
Do:
- Check anything electrical for signs of damage before plugging it in
- Read and follow the manufactures instructions
- Use like for like replacement lamps
- Ensure outdoor lights are protected by an RCD-protected socket
- Ensure plugs and transformers are undercover
- Switch off lights before you go to bed
- Keep lights away from flammable decorations
- Store lights and electrical goods in the original packaging, avoiding damp or excessively hot conditions
Don’t :
- Use lights outdoors unless they have specifically been designed for such use
- Connect different lighting sets together
- Plug lights in which are still in the packaging
- Remove or insert new lamps whilst plugged in to power source
- ‘Daisy chain’ extension lead or multi plug adapters
- Allow children or pets to play with electrical items
- Repair faulty lights – they must be replaced
One of the biggest mistakes that you can make this season is not protecting yourself and your home from potential risks. So don’t let your holidays be ruined by some sort of electrical accident – properly prepare your home and yourself for all of your beautiful decorations so you can safely enjoy the most wonderful time of the year.
