Halloween is done and Christmas is on the horizon. Millions of us will soon be digging out the box of decorations in the attic, or heading to the shops to pick out a whole new theme for this year’s tree.
Decorating your home is exciting, but safety needs to remain the focus- especially if you’re managing a property and will be decorating common areas. Out of date electrical items, especially in combination with certain other decorations or under-protected homes, can present serious fire risks. They can also add unnecessary pressure to already inflated energy bills.
Here we’ll be outlining some good options to avoid dangerous situations and to make sure you’re looking after your building’s finances too.
LED Lights
This is our number one top tip. Switching your traditional, incandescent lights for LEDs is a huge cost saver due to their longevity and their efficiency.
Admittedly, your initial outlay for LED Christmas lights is likely to be around twice the cost of incandescent sets, but they more than make up for that when it comes to your energy bill. You can save as much as they cost within just four seasons of use. If you plan to use them all year round, you could save as much as they cost within one year of use.
This is because incandescent bulbs work using filaments which release up to 90% of their energy as heat, creating a fire hazard and wating precious energy. LED bulbs use around 75% less energy due to their lower wattage and last 25 times as long as their incandescent counterparts (for around 20 years), while giving out no heat whatsoever.
Some top tips when choosing your LED lights include:
- Look for the hue of white you prefer. There are cool white and warm white options available. Cool white have a blue hue to it while warm white provides a more golden effect that mimics the look of incandescent lights.
- LED diodes (the light-emitting chip inside an LED bulb) are produced in ‘bins’ (batches) that match in colour. Each ‘bin’ will carry a slight variation in hue, so buying multiple strings in one go is the best way to ensure that all your lights will have the same hue.
Note: If you’re using a mixture of incandescent lights and LEDs, please know that you can’t replace incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs. The wiring is completely different in terms of wattage and resistors.
Celebrating Safely
So, you’ve got your new energy-saving, long-lasting LED lights and you’re ready to get decorating. Here are a few common mistakes to avoid for the sake of safety:
- Electric lights and metal don’t mix
For the sake of reducing your fire risks and any nasty electric shocks, don’t combine electric lights with metal objects or decorations. If you have a metal tree or want to decorate a space that contains metal, use ornaments, tinsel, garland etc. Don’t be tempted to use anything that plugs in!
On this- avoid using staples, nails or pins to hang your lights- always stick to plastic hooks/fixings that won’t pose a shock risk.
- Turn lights off overnight/when you’re away
I think most of us will be in this habit anyway due to the horror stories we hear every year about house fires, but also because it’s an energy-saving tactic. Reduce your fire risk and save money by turning things off at the plug.
- Think about tree placement and hydration
Beautiful trees next to cosy, roaring fires may look picturesque, but this combo is not a wise choice in reality. Keep trees at least 3 feet away from fireplaces and any candles.
Keeping your tree well-hydrated makes for a longer-lasting tree that looks much healthier and holds onto its needles for longer, while also reducing your fire risk. Dry wood burns faster.
- Check the ratings
We all love a bargain, but discount Christmas lights should be approached with caution. All lights should have a product safety testing logo on them, either from the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UI) or Intertek (ETL Semko) so check the packaging carefully.
- Watch out for frayed wires
When the time comes to dig them out of storage, check your lights over very carefully. Age or mice may have got the better of them and frayed wires can cause shocks or fires. It’s worth giving them a good once-over to make sure they’re still in great condition.
- Outside for outside, inside for inside
Outdoor lights are designed to handle the elements. Indoor lights are not. Make sure you follow the guidelines on the packaging. You should also avoid running wires or extension cords through doors/windows. This can damage the wires, stop fire doors from closing and create more air flow to fires should they occur.
- Extension lead safety
These may not seem too dangerous but if they’re damaged, overloaded or create tripping hazards, they can cause big problems. Check them over before use and make sure you’re not overloading them by being aware of the maximum current rating for that particular lead. You can also avoid a trip to A&E and a dramatic tree-felling by not placing them over walkways.
We hope we’ve reminded you of a few common-sense rules for the season as well as pointing out some lesser-known hazards you can now avoid. Happy decorating!
