Merry Christmas, from Mister Sparky!

2016 is drawing to a close, and Christchurch is looking festive as families put up Christmas trees and decorate their homes.

Before you Deck the Halls, Mister Sparky has a serious message for you this ‘silly season.'

Electrical fires cause damage and disruption to people’s holidays every year.

Flashing Christmas lights look stunning as you drive around Christchurch at night. It’s a shame it takes so long to become dark at night to appreciate them. It’s tempting to go to bed and leave your Christmas lights twinkling away, but there is one big reason why you shouldn’t.

Christmas lights heat up quickly, especially on a warm summer’s night in Christchurch. When you combine hot light bulbs with a dry pine tree in your lounge for an extended period of time, you increase the risk of house fire.

See how long it takes for this small electrical fire to consume the whole house. You might be surprised!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMtjGfr0tYs

Mister Sparky’s Christmas Safety Tips

- As you unpack your electrical decorations, check for broken or worn wires, brittle plastic casings, and broken or missing bulbs. Wear and tear increases your chances of blowing a fuse or creating an electrical short.

- Don’t use Christmas lights that require a travel adaptor or aren’t made for New Zealand conditions.

- Don’t overload your electrical outlets. You might want to buy the largest multibox you can and plug in all your electrical decorations, but overloaded circuits can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

- Make sure the sockets and switches are clear and easy to reach, and not hidden behind presents or other decorations. Always turn off the lights before leaving the house or going to bed.

Outdoor Electrical Safety

Planning on decorating your entire home with the Christmas spirit?

Check that the lights are made for outdoor use first. Indoor lights aren’t insulated against the element and could develop faults if they get wet.

RCD’s on outdoor decorations can be a lifesaver! You can pick up Residual Current Devices or RCD’s from most hardware stores. Just plug your decoration into the RCD before connecting it to the socket. In case of an electrical fault, RCD’s can shut off the power within 1/40th of a second, seriously reducing the risk of fire or injury.

As an added safety precaution, with all the increased electrical activity in your Christchurch home now is the perfect time to test your smoke alarm.

If you have any Christmas lights or electrical decorations you’re not sure about, give Mister Sparky a call. We can test and tag your electric decorations, making sure they’re ok to use over the Christmas season. Please be safe this ‘silly season.’ Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, and we look forward to taking care of all your electrical needs in 2017!

 For quality electrical services in Christchurch backed by guarantees, workmanship and certifications you can trust, contact the registered Master Electricians at Mister Sparky on 0800 842 248 for a free consultation and quote.