subject: Don't be in the dark about Christmas lights safety [print this page] Don't be in the dark about Christmas lights safety
There are few more festive sights than a well-executed Christmas lights display. Getting the balance right between impressive creativity and ghastly garishness is a tricky task to pull off and millions of Britons have a go every year with varying results.
One thing that's much easier to do is to compromise the safety of your home with your lighting, if research published during last year's holiday season is anything to go by.
Around half of the homes visited in the Midlands were found to have dangerous displays often because people had failed to follow instructions for safe installation.
Anything electrical in the home needs to be approached with caution and festive decorations are no different. Those who opt for extra protection with lighting insurance may be protected in a catastrophe, but it's always better to prevent a problem than pick up the pieces.
The more elaborate your display, the bigger the risk you could be putting your home at meaning it's a good idea to follow a few important safety measures.
1. Know how to arrange your lights safely Lights should never be hung on hooks or nails or put in place with staples or nails which can puncture the wires. Covering the lights with decorative paper or hangings is also not recommended, as this could cause the bulbs to overheat.
2. Know where not to put your lights Any source of flame or heat should be avoided when finding a place for your lights this includes gas or electric heaters, fireplaces or candles. Children shouldn't be able to reach lights and the bulbs should never rest on the light string supply cord or other wires.
3. Know when it's safe to put your lights on You may want to impress passersby with your display, but only do so when you're in the house. Similarly, don't leave them switched on when you're in bed or out of the room for a period of time. Ensure the lights are unplugged after switching them off.
4. Know when to replace your lights Burned out lights can cause overheating, so replace them promptly, being careful to use light bulbs with the same volt and wattage as the ones being replace.
5. Know when a display is too much Without wanting to discourage your creativity, it's important to know when enough bulbs have been used in a display. Adding additional lights together can have disastrous consequences by overloading the wiring, possibly leading to electrical fires.
Failing to follow these handy hints could lead to much more than a claim on your home emergency insurance fire damage can be repaired, but photos and possessions can never be replaced. Is it really worth putting your home at risk for the sake of a little festive flamboyance?
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