How to safely run your Christmas lights outdoor

Having outdoor Christmas lights at your home really gives such a festive feel to your home, but how do you run these safely? We speak to NICEIC, the UK’s leading body for certified electrical businesses for some advice.

• Christmas lights are safe to use to us in the rain so long as they are outdoor lights that have been specifically designed to be used outdoors. If you are unsure check the manufacturers’ instructions.

• Ideally, to be safe in the rain, lights should be plugged into an outside socket which must be RCD protected for safety. An RCD (residual current device) works by switching off the flow of electricity when a cable or flex is damaged.

• If you need to have an outdoor socket fitted this must always be done by a registered electrician such as one registered with NICEIC.

• Any fixed or permanent outside lighting should be installed by a registered electrician to ensure it complies with the appropriate safety standards.

These are some useful and helpful tips to help you run your Christmas lights outdoors safely from the NICEIC. Take a look at some of the best outdoor Christmas lights.