5 Electrical Safety Tips for the Christmas Festive Season | Auckland Electricians

With only a couple of weeks to go until Christmas, excitement is building. Be sure to keep you and your family safe and eliminate any electrical hazards. Our team of Auckland Electrician's have come up with their top 10 tips for keeping you safe this December.

1. Inspect your Christmas lights before you put them up and regularly check them for any potential hazards. Key things to look out for are any signs of damage to the wires, ensure any lights used outdoor are weatherproof and designed to be used outdoors, check the power socket for any signs of damage and ensure your switchboard has RCD protection. Please remember to turn of lights when they are not being used, as leaving them on continuously can create excess heat and has the potential to be a fire hazard.

2. Avoid overload on your power circuits. Use of multi-boxes and extension cords can overload and overheat your powerpoints. It is always safest to plug lights or applicances directly into the wall, however, if you must use a multi-box - get ones with surge protection.

3. Safe Christmas Tree selection and placement. If buying a man-made Christmas tree it is essential to choose a fire-retardant one, this helps to prevent it catching fire or if it does, makes it easier to put out. If buying a real tree, keep it well watered so that it doesn't dry out and become a fire risk. No matter what type of tree you have, keep it well away from any fire hazards.

4. Test Smoke Alarms. You should always regularly check your smoke alarms and ensure your smoke alarms are to proper electrical standard. In the case of a fire, these can alert you early so that you can get to safety as fast as possible. Keep your family and yourself safe.

5. Give safe electrical gifts. If you buy family or friends an electrical gift for Christmas, please ensure it is from a reputable seller and fits the NZ electrical safety standards. It is important to check that the item hasn't been recalled too.

We can help you to keep you and your family safe this Christmas. Get in touch with us for any of your electrical needs today! 021 022 38853