Lesley Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 My son helped me set up the tree today. I bought new lights last year - a fairly expensive set. Just as we finished the lights and were going to be working elsewhere in the house or outside, my son's friend called in and we all sat and had coffee. Suddenly, there was a fizzing sound and the transformer set on fire - the lights were still working . They were quickly unplugged and we were left with just smoke coming from the transformer. I would have left those lights on while I went some distance from the house My daughter puts her tree lights on in the morning and leaves them on until bedtime - she has an office at theend of their garden and not in the house where the tree is How many of us leave them on because we've not actually 'left' the house? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 15, 2006 Share Posted December 15, 2006 Oh my goodness! That's awful - good job you were around Lesley! I'm afraid mine are on a timer so come on in the morning and go off at night whether I am in or not (although am not often out) - but I might need to rethink that! Trouble is OH is a sparky so he starts poo pooing if I suggest that something electrical may not be very safe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 15, 2006 Author Share Posted December 15, 2006 My father is a (retired) electrician Snowy, so I know what you mean. I only changed ours last year because somebody sat on the control box of the old set - and my Dad wasn't happy about them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 (edited) Gosh I usually turn ours on when I come down for breakfast, and turn them off last thing at night perhaps not any more karen x Edited December 16, 2006 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paola Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 How scary. I am good at turning mine off because when OH was little, his neighbours lost everything to a house fire caused by faulty christmas tree lights Thankfully "Ooops, word censored!"ody was hurt. Since then OH is paranoid about leaving them on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 A timely warning, thank you. There has been one serious housefire already, in Leeds I think, according to the news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Good warning Lesley! Glad your lights didn't cause any damage to the house. Thank goodness you were there when it happened. I'll only put mine on when I'm in the room now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali-s Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Thanks for the warning Lesley. Glad you are OK. Our christmas lights are only kept on if someone is is the room. OH is a sparky too and is paranoid about all things electrical. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Scary Lesley, how lucky that you were there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 I think it is wise to switch the lights off at night but my OH said "oh leave them on they will be fine" so for the last week they have been on 24/7 .....................Not any more thanks for the warning Lesley I will switch them off myself OH is just too lazy to do it........... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannie Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 I could easily have died when I was little due to christmas tree lights. My grandfather was supervising me and my little sister, and had put us upstairs for a nap after lunch. My grandparents had real candles on the tree, and my grandfather wasn't in the room. The neighbour spotted through the window that the tree had started to catch light, dashed in through the unlocked french windows (we're talking about a few years ago!), and chucked the tree out! Guess no-one has real candles on trees any more - good job too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 A good warning Lesley. Can I also suggest that people dont leave their washing machines / dishwashers running if they are out? When I first started in insurance (yawn... stick with me..............) I dealt with a number of house fires caused by electrical appliances overheating. Houses and contents can be replaced but lives / memories / photos / pets cant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cate in NZ Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Oooops, I do that a lot Mel . Regularly in the morning before I go to work I switch on the washing machine and the dishwasher, so that everything's clean and waiting for me when I get home from work. I did once return home to a thankfully mini flood where the washing machine hose had become partially dislodged, but never really thought about the risk of it overheating and catching fire. I'll try and avoid doing that from now on I think Thanks for the advice . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel (& Paul) Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 I dont want to be a scare monger - but if you can leave stuff until you get home it is better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Don't know about doing it whilst you're out - I do mine overnight where possible due to economy 7. Even more worrying is it happening whilst you're in bed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted December 16, 2006 Share Posted December 16, 2006 Oh Lesley what a shock for you so glad you are all alright. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted December 16, 2006 Author Share Posted December 16, 2006 It was a bit scary - when you consider we live in a timber frame house and the tree is next to some of Carl's books - a lot of them irreplaceable We still left the lights on whilst we went around the farm with Andrew and Joe today though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
