We've made the list and checked it twice - the do's and don'ts of Christmas light safety

Christmas is the time of year where we all get super busy, use lots of power and, with everything going on, can get a little lax with electrical safety. Nothing brings on the festive vibes like Christmas trees, tinsel and fairy lights, but before you drag out those decorations, ensure you are familiar with our dos and don't of Christmas light safety.

Before you start

Do

Buy Australian-compliant safety LED lights. Buying LED lights will save you money on your power bill and are also a lot less likely to run hot, burn out or explode than filament alternatives.
Give preference to solar or extra low voltage equipment
Check old Christmas lights and electrical wires for any wear and tear before re-using them.
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Test your safety switch and smoke detector to make sure they are working – if you need advice on this please give us a call.

Don’t

Don't alter or modify lights.
Be wary of purchasing non-compliant lights over the Internet from overseas.
Don’t use any lights, extension leads or power boards that look damaged, have missing bulbs or show signs of wear and tear

Indoors

Do

Keep Christmas lights and other electrical appliances out of reach of children and educate them on the importance of electrical safety.
If you have a living Christmas tree, switch off and unplug lights before watering

Don’t

Place Christmas lights near tinsel as the heat could start a fire if the lights are left on for long durations
Position the Christmas tree near flammable materials such as curtains or the couch

Outdoors

Do

Use only external use lights and light fittings for outdoors including verandahs. It is not safe to use indoor lights outdoors as they don’t have the additional weatherproof ratings. Outdoor equipment must have a rating of at least IP23
Secure lights to avoid breakage in the wind or storms
Always turn off outdoor Christmas lighting in rainy or stormy weather
Practise ladder safety i.e wear non-slip footwear, always maintain 3 points of contact and use a spotter to hold the ladder still

Don’t

Don’t string lights or electrical leads near overhead powerlines, swimming pools or the point of attachment where the overhead powerline connects to your house.
Don’t run extension leads in high traffic areas such as walkways or driveways where someone could trip over them or they could be damaged
Don’t install, move or adjust Christmas lights while they are turned on
Don’t overcrowd power points or use multiple double adaptors.
Avoid passing electrical leads through doorways and windows or wrapping them around sharp metal objects where leads may get damaged.