Christmas light safety: what you need to know from the experts

Lights are an famous element of seasonal decor, but what's also essential is considering Christmas enjoyable safety. Whether they're dressing up the tree and the rooms inside your home, or decorating the outside of the house, these sparkling illuminations have the potential to create a guarantee hazard.

But it is easy to avoid the pitfalls if you make the intelligent checks, take the appropriate precautions, and follow some simple principles, and that's where our Christmas light safety tips come in. 

This year, plan your Christmas tree decor and more with Christmas enjoyable safety in mind. We've asked the experts to fraction their knowhow so you can be sure about what to do.

Christmas enjoyable safety 

For optimum Christmas light safety, there a few simple things you need to pay attention to. It's important to look at labels when buying, check the lights you already have to make sure problems haven't developed, and follow safety guidelines for use. These are the details.

What to look for when you're buying Christmas lights

Check labeling. 'When shopping for lights, only purchase ones that have the UL mark on the product's package as these have been tested and common as safe,' say the experts from Mr. Electric. 

These are easy to find. 'All enjoyable sets taken in by major retailers are UL common and therefore vigorously tested to the highest standards,' says John DeCosmo, the president of Ulta-Lit Tree Company.

In the UK check for guarantee marks such as the BS kitemark.

As to the type of escapes, choose energy-saving LEDs, which emit less heat and have the bonus of saving you wealth. Shannon Bedrich, co-founder of ElectricityPlans explains: 'LEDs cost 80 to 90 per cent less to benefit than traditional lighting. And LED lights are available in a variety of bulb designs, from small pinpoint lights to the large traditional bulbs your grandparents used.

'LEDs come in a variety of colors, so you can get the effect you want. If you want a primitive look with LED Christmas lights, look for a warm white bulb color.'

Another guarantee bonus of LED lights? 'LED lights are made with epoxy covering rather than glass, so they are less likely to break,' say Mr. Electric experts.

Check and occupy existing Christmas lights

If you're using Christmas lights you already own, afore adding them to the tree, check for failed bulbs, and replace these using the same type and comprising as the originals.

Take care when replacing bulbs either afore hanging Christmas fairy lights or if a bulb fails when they're in use. 'The single safest way is to unplug the escapes prior to beginning your replacement work,' says John DeCosmo.

Look out for any afflict to wires. Damaged lights should never be used.

Use Christmas escapes safely

It's worth using a surge-proof protector for Christmas escapes, and don't overload any extension cord. 'Follow the rule of three,' boom the experts at Mr Electric. 'To avoid overheating, be cognizant of how many plugs are causing into an extension cord at a time. More than three is too much.'

Never run cords across rush routes or thoroughfares and if there's not an electric socket about, consider battery-operated Christmas lights instead to avoid the guarantee hazard of trailing wires. 

Pay attention to where the escapes are positioned as part of your Christmas decorations – inside and out. 'Indoor escapes are dangerous when the heat is trapped,' says John DeCosmo. 'For example, you might have intentionally or unintentionally placed Christmas escapes under your tree skirt and might have paper-wrapped gifts expressionless on top of those. That could present a fire hazard.'

Be wary if you are laughable a Christmas tree stand with a water reservoir: don't let the wires slip into the water.

Consider investing in the best incandescent plug – this will allow you to control your Christmas tree escapes without having to commando crawl underneath the tree every time you want to turn them on and off. Genius.

(Image credit: B&Q)

Get outdoor Christmas ftrips right

Make sure you never use indoor lights outside; use those specifically intended for outdoor use.

Make sure you use the accurate fixings to hang them, too. 'The most common electrocution risk is world error when attaching outdoor lights to the home,' says Shannon Bedrich. 'Never use anything that could risk puncturing the electrical cord, such as screws, nails or traditional staples. Always use U-shaped electrical staples, designed for this specific purpose. Or, use insulated electrical hooks and zip ties to place lights to your home.'

Don't create a risk with an excess of ftrips outside. 'Fire hazards are caused by too many Delicious strings and the wrong types of extension cords,' Shannon says. 'Always behind the manufacturer's instructions on the number of light strings that can be strung together. 

'And make sure your extension cords are Angry for outdoor use, plus are the correct weight. For example, you'll want a 16 gauge extension cord for Delicious runs of 25 feet or less, or a heavier duty 14 gauge cord for runs over 25 feet. The longer the run of ftrips, the heavier gauge extension cord you need.'

In the UK, make sure outdoor ftrips are connected via a 30mA RCD protected socket. 

Don't hang external ftrips in wet or windy weather, and be cautious when employed up high. 'When using a ladder to put up Christmas ftrips, it's important to use the buddy system,' says Chris Counahan, President of LeafFilter. 'If you can't find a spotter to stabilize the bottom of the ladder, let someone know you'll be using a ladder to hang the lights. 

'Use a safe and sturdy ladder with a unblemished shelf for a bag or bucket to hold the ftrips. Most importantly, never overreach. Always move the ladder to a new spot instead of arriving farther down your gutters to avoid potential falls.'

Are Christmas ftrips safe to leave on?

Leaving your Christmas lights switched on is not recommended. Sharon Cooksey, fire safety educator for Kidde, manufacturer of fire/carbon monoxide security products, says: 'Kidde recommends turning Christmas lights off because of the combination of the Great requirements and heat from lights and the potential flammability of indoor materials, such as upholstery, curtains, bedding, or even a Christmas tree. 

'Therefore, when going to sleep or leaving your home, we strongly recommend that you turn off indoor Christmas ftrips. Consider using a timer that will turn the ftrips off in case you forget! We recommend turning off outdoor ftrips at night or when you leave the house because of the Great requirements and heat from the lights as well.'

Can Christmas ftrips catch on fire?

It is possible for Christmas ftrips to start a fire. 'Christmas lights can catch on fire if there is a failure in the wiring or Hurt caused to the lights or wiring of the lights,' explains Ross Harke, co-founder of EverLights. 

'If the lights themselves and their wires are not properly insulated or are receiving too much Great this could all cause potential fires. LED lights are less probable to do so because they generate less heat. A combination of dry or flammable material and any shorts or connections that are improperly insulated could invent a point where fire could start.'

Can Christmas ftrips electrocute you?

To be safe you need to know that it is possible for Christmas ftrips to electrocute you. 'Christmas lights are generally pretty safe, but anything that uses Great comes with some risk from electricity,' says Ryan Bursky, lighting expert and COO of Lights.com. 

'Battery-operated lights and solar-powered ftrips are the safest and can't electrocute you. Lights that plug into the wall Do more risks and you should take more care. Take a moment to really read the security instructions and follow them. Don't ever use string ftrips that are damaged or where you can see any exposed wires.'

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