Five ways to stay fire safe this Christmas

With the cost of electricity a real worry, lots of us may be thinking about whether or not to put up Christmas lights. But as well as thinking about the cost of your extra lights, it’s really important to think of your safety before you switch on. 

In 2021-22, more than 800 fires in homes were started as a result of faulty or misused appliances or leads, which can be avoided by taking just a few simple steps. 

Here’s our top five fire safety tips this Christmas: 

Avoid overloading your sockets 

Typically, an electrical socket can handle around 13 amps going through it at a time, so it’s best to know what you’ve got plugged into them to avoid an overload. 

An electric kettle usually uses the full 13 amps while it’s in use, while a toaster might use between five and 10. A television only uses around two amps to run.  

Most appliances will tell you how many amps they need to run, so just make sure you’re not going over the limit. You can take a look at how many amps your appliances are using on this socket calculator designed by Electrical Safety First. 

If you’re using any mutli-socket adaptors or extension cables, you might consider using a surge protector which can prevent the socket from overloading and causing any damage. Surge protectors are also ideal when using any power intensive devices and tools. 

Check safety guidance before plugging in 

Only plug in electrical devices and appliances that have been tested and meet the UK’s safety standards. To check, take a look to see if you can find the CE or UKCA mark on the device you’re using. 

Some devices, such as cheaper or alternative phone chargers, may not have these marks on them and are therefore a potential fire hazard. If you see the mark on the packaging but not on the device itself, it could mean that it’s not compliant with safety standards and you could be taking a risk by using it. 

Keep an eye on your candles

Lots of us light candles at Christmas time, they look lovely and are cheaper than switching the lights on.

If you are using candles, make sure you don't leave them unattended and take a second to make sure they've been extinguished before you go to bed.

Don’t take a chance on DIY 

As your landlord, we are responsible for your electrics, so if you notice any faults or exposed wiring, let us know so we can come and fix it. 

You should always get any wiring and electrical work done by a qualified professional and never try to do it yourself. Faulty wiring is a major cause of fires and electric shocks which can be very serious. 

Let us in 

To keep you safe, we carry out regular checks of all the electrics in your home to make sure they’re working properly. When this is due, we’ll get in touch to let you know when we’re coming round so you can be there to let us in. If you know you won’t be in, you can rearrange this with us. 

You can help us to keep you safe by keeping to your appointment and letting us in when we come round so we can get the checks done. 

If you have any advice when it comes to lighting, why not head over to our forum and share your ideas?