Fairy lights on the tree, a light-up reindeer in the garden, a glowing window display: Christmas is when our homes use more decorative lighting than at any other time of year. Most of it is plugged in for hours every evening, often through extension leads, and much of it has spent eleven months in a box in the loft.
A few simple checks before you decorate will help keep your home safe all season.
Check your lights before you put them up
Lights that have been stored for a year can easily be damaged. Before you hang them:
- Inspect the cable for cuts, cracks, kinks or bare wire.
- Check the plug and transformer for damage, scorch marks or loose parts.
- Look at the bulbs, and replace any that are broken or missing with the correct type.
- Plug them in and test them before they go on the tree. If anything flickers, buzzes or gets warm, don’t use them.
If a set of lights is damaged, throw it away rather than trying to repair it.
Buy lights from a trusted retailer
Cheap lights from unknown online sellers may not meet UK safety standards. Buy from reputable retailers, and look for a UKCA or CE mark, a proper UK plug and clear instructions. Most modern Christmas lights are LED, which run much cooler than old filament bulbs and use less electricity.
Don’t overload your sockets
Christmas is when extension leads get pushed to their limits.
- Avoid “daisy-chaining”, which means plugging one extension lead into another.
- Check the rating of your extension lead and don’t exceed it. Many are rated at 13 amps in total.
- Use one extension lead per socket, and unroll cable reels fully before using them.
- Keep high-power appliances, such as heaters, off the same extension as your decorations.
Using lights outdoors
Outdoor decorations face rain, frost and wind, so they need extra care:
- Only use lights designed for outdoor use. Check the packaging for an IP rating suitable for outside.
- Plug them into a proper outdoor socket where possible, rather than running a lead through a window or door.
- Make sure outdoor sockets are RCD protected. An RCD switches the power off quickly if there’s a fault, which is especially important where water is involved.
- Keep plugs and connections off the ground and out of puddles.
Switch off at night
It’s tempting to leave the lights on, but switch decorations off when you go to bed or leave the house. A timer plug makes this easy and saves energy too.
Signs of a problem with your electrics
If your fuse box trips when you plug in your decorations, a socket feels hot, or you notice a burning smell, unplug everything and have your electrics checked by a qualified electrician.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to leave Christmas lights on overnight?
It’s best to switch them off when you go to bed or go out. If you want them to come on and off automatically, use a timer plug.
Can I use indoor Christmas lights outside?
No. Indoor lights aren’t designed for rain and moisture. Use lights made for outdoor use, with a suitable IP rating, plugged into an RCD-protected outdoor socket.
How many Christmas lights can I plug into one extension lead?
It depends on the extension lead’s rating and how much power each item uses. LED lights use very little, but always check the total load stays within the lead’s rating, and never plug one extension into another.
Have a safe and happy Christmas
From all of us at Urgent Electrical Services, have a bright and safe festive season. If you need help with your electrics this Christmas, we’re here across Nottingham and the East Midlands.
Blog Post 4
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Power Cut? What to Do and Who to Call
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Lost power at home? How to tell if it is a tripped fuse box or a local power cut, when to call 105 and when you need an electrician.
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Power Cut at Home? What to Do and Who to Call
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Lost power? How to tell a tripped fuse box from a local power cut, and when to call 105 or an electrician.
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The lights go out, the TV switches off and the house goes quiet. Losing power is unsettling, especially on a dark winter evening. The good news is that a few quick checks will usually tell you what’s happened and who can help.
Step 1: Is it just your home?
First, find out whether the problem is only in your home or affects the whole area.
- Look outside. Are the streetlights on? Do your neighbours have lights on?
- Ask a neighbour if their power is working.
If your neighbours have no power either, it’s probably a power cut on the local network. Go to Step 2.
If only your home has lost power, the problem is most likely inside your property. Go to Step 3.
Step 2: Report a local power cut by calling 105
If the whole area is affected, call 105. It’s a free number that puts you through to your local electricity network operator, the company that runs the cables and substations in your area. In the East Midlands, that’s National Grid. They can tell you what has happened and when power is expected back.
Your energy supplier, the company that sends your bill, doesn’t handle power cuts. Call 105 instead.
Step 3: Check your fuse box
If it’s just your home, check your fuse box, also called a consumer unit.
- Look for a switch that has flipped down to the “off” position. This could be an RCD or a circuit breaker.
- Unplug appliances on the affected circuits first, then try switching the tripped device back on.
- If it stays on, plug your appliances back in one at a time. If it trips again when you plug something in, that appliance is likely to be the cause.
- If it trips straight away with everything unplugged, or won’t reset at all, don’t keep trying. There may be a fault in the wiring.
At this point, you need a qualified electrician to find the fault and make it safe.
Stay safe during a power cut
- Use torches rather than candles where you can, to reduce the fire risk.
- Switch off appliances that heat, such as ovens, heaters and irons, so they don’t come back on unattended when the power returns.
- Leave one light switched on so you know when the power is back.
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed to keep food cold for longer.
- Check on vulnerable neighbours, especially older people living alone.
The Priority Services Register
If someone in your home relies on electricity for medical equipment, or is older or has additional needs, you can join the Priority Services Register. It’s free, and it means your network operator can give you extra support during a power cut. Ask your network operator or energy supplier how to sign up.
When to call an electrician
Call an electrician if:
- Your fuse box keeps tripping and won’t reset
- Only part of your home has lost power and you can’t find the cause
- You notice burning smells, scorch marks or hot sockets
- The power came back on but something still isn’t working
Our Emergency Electrician in Nottingham & the East Midlands service can trace the fault and get your power back on safely.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call in a power cut?
If the whole area has lost power, call 105, the free power cut number. It puts you through to your local network operator. If only your home is affected, check your fuse box first. If it won’t reset, call an electrician.
Why does my fuse box keep tripping?
A fuse box trips to protect you when it detects a fault, such as a faulty appliance, a damaged cable or moisture getting into a socket. If it keeps tripping, don’t keep resetting it. Have an electrician find the cause.
Should I unplug appliances during a power cut?
It’s a good idea to switch off or unplug appliances that heat, such as ovens, heaters and irons, so they don’t come back on unattended. Leave one light on so you know when the power returns.
