The Christmas season is well and truly here, with Christmas lights and decorations displayed throughout Logan City.
However, Danny Donald from Energex is advising residents and businesses to take care when buying, installing and storing your sparkling Christmas lights and decorations.
“Firstly, it starts with the buying of Christmas lights,” he said. “We’re always encouraging people to buy from a reputable retailer.
“Also consider if the product is built to Australian standards, because there’s too many people out there buying Christmas lights online, trying to save a few dollars, and in the past our crews have gone out and seen some of these Christmas lights with exposed 240 volt wires.”
Another important safety tip to consider when installing and storing your Christmas lights and decorations is ensuring they are in good condition, Mr Donald said.
“If they are last year’s Christmas lights or the Christmas lights you’ve had for quite a while, they’ll often be stored in the garage or out of sight,” he said. “Maybe they’ve been stored in the back shed where they may have become damaged, chewed on by rodents, or could have even become wet or damp.
“So, make sure there’s no frayed cords and that they look in good condition even before you plug them in.
“Once you do plug them in, stay with them for a few minutes to make sure there’s no smoking or electrical smell.
Damaged electrical goods can happen anywhere, so Mr Donald is encouraging locals to treat Christmas lights and Christmas decorations like any other electrical appliance.
“The last thing you want to do is start a house fire by going on the cheap and using really cheap electrical goods, Christmas lights or other powered decorations,” Mr Donald said.
“You must be aware too, that when it comes to packing up your Christmas lights at the end of the season, pack them up neatly. You can wrap them up around a piece of cardboard or Christmas wrapping tube to ensure they are stored correctly.
“When you are storing Christmas lights or other powered decorations treat them as you would any other electrical appliance, because at the end of the day, they are like any other electrical appliance.
“Treat them with respect, make sure they’re in good working and you should avoid any sort of risk, whether that be a house fire or electric shock.”
