The holiday may be over, but it will not be long before you realize it is Christmas time once again. Regardless of the season, ensuring that your lights are safe and will not cause a fire should be any homeowner’s primordial concern.
In preparation for the next Christmas season, it is a great idea to start educating yourself on christmas lights safety. These lights may add a festive touch and merry feeling to your home, but if you do not observe safety precautions, your merry-making can quickly turn into mourning. To avoid such unfortunate things from occurring, go over these safety tips below.
Before decorating with the holiday lights
Before you hang your lights up on your Christmas tree, consider these safety precautions.
- Check if your light has been appropriately rated – The lights you bought on bargain are not always a good deal only to find out that they pose a fire hazard. Make sure to use lights that have been rated and tested by regulatory bodies in Australia. Also, look for a regulatory compliance mark that looks like these – NSW88888, N54321, V44444, or Q98989.
- Inspect for signs of fraying – The moment you take your lights from storage, immediately inspect its cords to be 100% sure that they are neither damaged nor frayed. If you insist on hanging lights with frayed wires, you run the risk of experiencing an electrical short. If unchecked, fraying can destroy your other decorations, and at worst, can lead to a fire. Throw broken light strings away.
- Follow the indicated usage – There is a vast difference between an outdoor holiday and indoor holiday lights. Before you hang any of them, ensure that you only use fixtures in the environment they are advised to be used.
- Carefully change locations – Keep your lights away from any potential fire hazards like fireplaces, space heaters, or candles. Also, make sure that the light bulbs are not very close to any flammable paper or material.
- Hang the lights carefully – Remember to avoid using nails, staples, or tacks to hang your light. Use specifically-designed insulated holders instead.
When lights are already displayed
The safety of your Christmas lights does not mean when all of them are up and twinkling. To avoid any other hazard, remember to follow these safety tips:
- Choose your extension wires carefully – It is highly likely that you will need an extension wire to let all your lights light up. Ensure that you have a good quality extension cord, something that is sufficient in length and quantity. Also, make sure not to overload your cables by using more wattage than what they were designed to accommodate. If you are planning to use your extension cord outdoors, make sure that you are using those explicitly rated for exterior use.
- Position your extension cords correctly – Ensure that your extension cords are positioned in a way that it cannot cause a tripping hazard. Also, make sure that your lights are not pulled taut. Otherwise, you will have a higher risk of having these cords pull your tree or decorations over.
The Final Takeaway
These lights come in different colors, sizes, and styles. Once lit up, they will look like stars twinkling from a distance, quickly creating a festive and happy atmosphere for the onlookers and homeowners. Keep the merry-making and happy thoughts and feelings by making sure that these lights will never ever set your property on fire.
Author Darren Wilson