While you might be considering hanging the Christmas lighting outside your business property within the next few weeks, there are some safety concerns you should take into account first. This includes carrying out any maintenance, to make sure that the lighting is in good, and safe, working order. But what should you look out for? Well, here at Walker Electrical, we are Preston’s leading electrical experts. As a result, we have produced this guide to the important aspects of electrical maintenance for outdoor Christmas lighting.
Electrical maintenance for outdoor Christmas lighting
So, what should you be looking at as part of your electrical maintenance? Well, there are several things to check over, including:
- Extension cords- any outdoor extension cords you use will need to be checked over first, before the big switch on. It’s important to make sure that there are no cracks in the insulation, or exposed wires, and that this extension has not been stored incorrectly. If the cable has been sat in water or frost, it could be a risk when plugged in, and if this is the case, you shouldn’t use it. New extension cables will need to be PAT tested first off course.
- Check for any moisture related issues- depending on how your Christmas lights have been stored, there could be some moisture related issues. This may be visible with moisture or condensation build up within the light casing, or in the wires and cables. Make sure there is no sign of water damage, before you try and switch these on.
- Check for exposed wires- the insulation protecting wires on Christmas lights can sometimes be quite brittle, and cracks can appear, exposing the interior wires. Clearly this is an electric shock and fire risk, so these should not be used.
For more information or for any advice get in touch with the professionals today, here at Walker Electrical.