Staying Safe This Christmas

The festive season is upon us! Christmas 2020 might be different from all the others, but people are still adorning their houses with lights, trees and decorations. At this time of year, there are lots of electrical dangers to watch out for. So, here at Harcon, we have a few tips for staying safe this Christmas. 

Christmas Decorations

Since your decorations are only used once a year, it’s important to test them prior to use. Also, if you store them in a damp, uncovered place such as your garage, you may want to consider grabbing a few new lights for this year. 

Here are a few of Harcon’s top tips for staying safe when putting up the decorations. 

  • Always read the instructions and retain them for future use
  • Replace failed lamps immediately, make sure you only use replacement lamps of the same type and rating – if lamps are not replaceable, the whole unit may need replacing
  • Make sure your outdoor lighting is connected to an RCD protected socket, this reduces the risk of electric shock and fires. 
  • Check any electrics outside are plugged into weatherproof sockets.
  • Don’t overload power sockets, this can lead to overheating and fires
  • Switch your lights off when you are asleep or out of the house.

Christmas Tree Fires

Most Christmas tree fires are caused by electrical problems, so we have a few ways to help prevent this. 

  • If you have a fake Christmas tree, make sure it is fire resistant
  • Check your smoke alarm once a month to ensure it is working properly 
  • Water your tree daily; dry trees are more likely to catch fire. 
  • Check your Christmas tree lights for frayed wires
  • Switch your Christmas tree lights off before leaving the house or going to bed

Use LED lights

It is recommended that you opt for LED lights on your tree. They operate at extra low voltage, which reduces the risk of electric shock. They also use 80-90% less electricity to run and are made of more durable materials. 

Staying safe this Christmas just got ten times easier. We use a lot of electrical appliances that we wouldn’t normally use during the festive season, but with our quick guide for safely decorating your house, you can’t go wrong.