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The potential danger lurking in your living room

They’re the potential fire danger in your living room but being safe with your Christmas lights can prevent a number of risks these holidays.

And Metro Fire’s Assistant Chief Fire Officer Risk and Resilience Tim Landells and Chris Barnes from consumer advocate group CHOICE have warned about the decorations.

Close up top view of person holding roll of wire micro LED string lights in hands.
It's recommended using LED lights, like those pictured here, as they produce less heat. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

Can Christmas lights burn curtains?

Christmas lights, like anything which gets hot, can burn curtains.

It’s best to be cautious with where you place them.

“Electrical faults are one of the top five causes of house fires,” Mr Landells told Yahoo News.

“If the lights get hot enough they could potentially burn your curtains – particularly with older bulbs.”

Mr Landells recommended using LED Christmas lights, or “low emitting diode lights”, which create less heat than other options.

He added LED lights “don’t get anywhere near as hot” and they also use less power.

Choosing your Christmas tree lights

Mr Barnes said dodgy Christmas lights have been the subject of a number of product recalls in recent years.

“Typically the hazard is that they don't meet Australian electrical safety standards,” Mr Barnes said.

“A range of problems have been found, such as faulty controllers, exposed wiring, or claims to be suitable for use outdoors but lacking proper outdoor insulation.

“These can lead to electrical shocks to a user – potentially serious or even fatal.”

A dog is pictured next to a Christmas tree.
Dodgy or damaged Christmas lights not only dim the holiday spirit but can lead to injuries. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

So, how do you ensure you don’t buy faulty lights?

“Look for an Australian approval number or a compliance mark on the lights, controller, or packaging,” Mr Barnes said.

A Regulatory Compliance Mark shows that a product is safe to supply to the Australian market.

NSW Fair Trading has a guide to approval numbers and you can click here to read more.

Australians have been warned in previous years from buying cheap Christmas tree lights from $2 shops.

Using older Christmas lights

If you’re using lights which have been sitting in the cupboard since last December make sure to check them.

“Inspect your lights,” Mr Landells said.

“If they’re missing globes or have broken wires then you should throw them out.”

A broken plug on a set of Christmas tree lights.
If your lights have seen better days such as these ones it's probably time for a trip to the tip. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

Can Christmas lights get wet?

Mr Landells said it’s important when purchasing your lights to check whether they’re usable inside or outside.

“It’s important to distinguish this because some lights can’t be used outside the house,” he said.

“Generally lights are plugged into a 240-volt power outlet and you also want to make sure that’s covered too and out of the weather.

“You don’t want power outlets exposed to water.”

A man stands on a ladder hanging Christmas lights outside of a home with the help of two other people.
Christmas lights can get wet but only those specifically designed to be outdoors. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

Mr Barnes added every set of outdoor light should have an IP rating which is worth checking.

An IP rating, also known as an ingress protection rating, is used to specify how effective an electrical appliance is protected from exposure to intrusive materials including dust and vapour.

For more info on IP ratings click here.

Can Christmas lights be used with an extension cord?

You can use Christmas lights with an extension cord but it’s best to utilise a powerboard.

Mr Barnes suggested only using extension cords which are in a good condition “and if the instructions say that’s OK”.

Mr Landells recommended using powerboards over double adaptors too.

“You want a powerboard approved by Australian safety standards,” he said.

“Make sure you look at the condition too – if it’s old, has frayed wiring or cracks in it it’s time to get a new one.

“They are also pretty inexpensive.”

A woman decorates a Christmas tree with lights.
It's recommended using powerboards instead of double adaptors when lighting up your tree. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

As for where you place cords and powerboards, make sure you don’t put them under rugs or mats.

“This increases the risk of something heavy being dropped on them and the cables become damaged,” Mr Landells said.

“Also, make sure you put them in a place where you don’t get caught up in them yourself. I set mine up and tripped over.”

It’s also best to keep the cords and lights away from other heat sources.

This means it’s recommended you don’t keep your Christmas tree lit up next to the oven while you bake a fruit cake.

Candles and incense burners should also be kept away from lights and power sources too.

Water your Christmas tree

If you purchased a natural tree it’s best to keep it watered.

Mr Landells suggested watering just the base of the tree and not over the lights as “water and electricity don’t mix”.

A dry Christmas tree and a watered Christmas tree are pictured next to each other. The dry one is up inflames.
Unwatered Christmas trees, if they're natural, can present a fire hazard as per this example. Source: US Consumer Product Safety Commission

“You want to keep the tree from drying out,” he said.

“They drop needles and leaves when they’re dry which could be a fire hazard.

“It’s like comparing green grass to yellow grass – if there’s no moisture then the tree will become brittle and break.”

He said if a tree is “moist and healthy” it’s “less likely to be susceptible to heat”.

A test of an unwatered Christmas tree conducted in the US in 2017 showed it burning down in seconds.

Practise good housekeeping this Christmas

Chances are you’ve probably had a spring clean and decluttered your living room before December 1 bit if you haven’t it might be time to do some organising.

“Good housekeeping is always good practise to reduce the risk of fire,” Mr Landells said.

“It means if your home isn’t a mess you have good access paths to evacuate.”

A little boy eats popcorn next to a Christmas tree.
Keeping living spaces tidy is recommended over the holiday period. Source: Getty Images (file pic)

Turn off your Christmas tree lights when you’re not at home

It might be nice to show off your Christmas tree and the big gifts just waiting to be opened to the neighbours while you’re out.

But there’s really no point in leaving the lights on while you’re out.

“Turn the lights off when you’re not at home,” Mr Landells said.

By turning them off you’re not only cutting down the risk of fire you’ll also save money on your energy bill.

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