Pulling the plug: electrical safety at Christmas

Beautiful string lights popping up across Melbourne on home facades, fences, and of course on the Christmas tree, are one of the first signs of that exciting festive season. We love seeing homes lit up in their best festive gear, but as electricians, electrical safety is always in the back of our minds.

When you see a home decorated with thousands of LED lights, you might think of Clark Griswold’s delighted face, but we think “Gee… I hope their safety switch is working.”

 

 

Christmas light safety

DOs

• When opening a new set of lights, ensure you carefully read the manufacturer’s instructions and guidelines
• If you’re reusing your own lights, conduct a thorough check to make sure the set does not have any wiring damage
• Check for blown globes and replace them
• Buy local – be wary of overseas purchases, mainly due to voltage differences and plug variations

DON’Ts

• Don’t use Christmas lights outside unless they are specifically designed for outdoor usage
• Don’t try to connect different lighting sets together
• Don’t replace or remove globes while the adapter is plugged in
• Don’t risk using lights that are faulty or damaged

Remember, your lights have been packed away for 12 months, so make sure you carefully inspect them before you use them.

If you’re using extension cords to better perfect your lighting display, make sure you don’t run them under rugs (risk of overheating) and ensure they’re not pinched by doors, windows, or heavy furniture (risk of damage).

 

Christmas tree safety

If you’re decorating with lights, make sure your Christmas tree is positioned safely away from flammable materials like curtains, as well as heat sources like heater vents.

Never overload power boards, and please, please, please – do not piggy back them! Overloaded power sockets are one of the most common causes of electrical fires in the home.

Make sure tinsel and other decorative materials are not directly touching lights, and ensure you turn the lights off when you leave the house or go to sleep at night.

Oh, and if you’ve got a delicious-smelling real pine tree in your house, make sure you keep it fresh by watering it daily. A dry tree can be a serious fire hazard!

Candle safety

Nothing says Christmas Eve in Melbourne than the family gathered around the Christmas tree watching Vision Australia’s Carols by Candlelight.

Lighting up candles before settling in for the night before St Nick’s arrival is a Melbourne tradition (even on a typically warm December night). While we love our summer Christmas, lighting candles on Christmas Eve seems to be that little homage to a White Christmas.

When using candles:

• Never leave an open flame unattended
• Always ensure candles are properly extinguished before leaving the room
• Keep candles away from curtains and other soft furnishings
• Keep an eagle eye on small children – at all times

 

Electrical safety during summer storms

34 degrees and sunny one day, 21 and overcast the next. That’s Melbourne for you! We’re no stranger to crazy weather in Melbourne, and summer electrical storms are not uncommon.

During a summer storm, blackouts, lightning, and power surges are common. Follow these electrical safety tips:

• Turn off larger electrical appliances like your TV by the power point
• Don’t attempt to re-connect devices like smartphone or laptop chargers during the storm
• Don’t try to inspect electrical damage (both indoors and out)
• Call an emergency electrician
• Stay away from damaged appliances

 

Emergency electrician Melbourne

Put safety first: don’t try to be a hero, and don’t think you’ll be saving a couple of bucks by attempting to do it yourself.

Briggs is despatching emergency electricians across Melbourne during the entire festive and summer season. We’re available 24 hours a day and are ready to provide you a rapid-response emergency electrician service.

Call us now on 1300 300 222 (or better yet, save our number in your phone!) You can also contact us here.