FAQs

How do I assemble my Christmas tree?

Step One: Select a location to assemble your tree. Lighted trees should be placed near a wall outlet.

Step Two: Before removing the tree contents, locate the small pack of extra bulbs, fuses and complimentary light tester, generally taped to the inside wall of the box. Please set these items aside, as they may become useful later.

Step Three: Gently remove the tree sections and tree stand from the box(es), one piece at a time. Carefully inspect each piece to ensure there are no exposed wires, loose connections, cracks, frays or anything of the sort.

Step Four: Based on the height of the tree you purchased, there will be a number of sections labeled alphabetically starting with the letter “A”. Trees of four sections, for instance, are marked “A-D”. In the case of a four section tree, section “A” would represent the top, and section “D” would be the bottom.

Step Five: Begin by assembling the tree stand. Fully extend the legs of the tree stand into the shape of an “X” (Image A). Next, screw the eye bolt in just enough to allow it to stay in place (Image B), being careful not to screw it in too far, as this will prevent the bottom section of the tree from being properly seated in the stand.

Step Six: Identify the bottom section of your tree, and place the pole into the stand (Image C). Notice how the bottom of the pole is crimped, making it easy to identify. Once the pole is fully seated, tighten the eye bolt to secure.

Step Seven: Select the next largest tree section and insert it into the section below it, working sequentially from the bottom to the top of the tree (Image D). Allow branches to fall into place. If for some reason a branch will not fall properly, gently pull upward and outward on the branch from the base of the stem. For lighted trees, connect the plugs for the lights into their corresponding sockets, section by section.

Additional information is outlined in the paper Instruction Sheet that accompanied your tree.

How do I fluff my Christmas tree?

Step One: To achieve the most realistic look with your tree, fluff each section as you assemble it before moving on to the next section. Once the branches have fallen into place and appear evenly spaced, begin working your way up from the bottom layer to the top, separating out the smaller branches within each larger branch (Image E).

Step Two: Spread the tips out in a “V” pattern (Image F). Alternating the direction of the tips will achieve the most natural and full appearance. Therefore, some tips will need to be directed vertically, while others should alternate side-to-side. The outermost tips can be curled upward for an upswept look or downward for an elegant downswept look.

Tip: To achieve the most authentic appearance, find an image of a similar live tree, and try to mimic the direction of its branches and tips.

Step Three: After you’ve worked your way to the top, step back from the tree to see if any further shaping is needed to fill in any gaps.

Tip: The key to a beautiful artificial tree is taking the time to ensure that each branch is shaped consistently throughout the tree. The first season requires the most fluffing; however, for future seasons, fluffing your tree will be much easier because the tree will retain much of the shape from the prior season.

How do I store my Christmas tree properly?

Tree storage bags are the preferred way to store an artificial Christmas tree. They make take down, transport, storage and setup easier and protect the tree from dust and sunlight. When using a tree storage bag, be sure to select one appropriate for the size and height of your tree.

Storing the tree in its original box(es) is also an option. However, this option requires complete disassembly of the tree and unplugging all the sections from one another. To accomplish this, gently lift off each section of the tree and carefully place it into the box, being careful not to crush the wires and bulbs. Once the tree is completely packed, be sure the box(es) is tightly sealed.

It is important to store your tree in a cool, dry area away from direct sunlight. Exposure to moisture and excessive heat may damage your tree and reduce its life. Damage due to improper storage is not covered under the warranty.

How can I use a light tester to troubleshoot an unlit section of my prelit Christmas Tree?

Premium Red Sleigh™ artificial Christmas tree come equipped with a complimentary light tester to assist in identifying and correcting common bulb outages, ensuring that your tree will remain beautifully lit for years to come.

Sectional outages are typically caused by one of two things:

Loose Bulb: Christmas tree bulbs are connected in a series. When one bulb is not sitting all the way down in the socket, it results in an incomplete circuit, causing a section of the tree to go out. You must identify the loose bulb and reseat it (Image G).

Bad or Broken Bulb: A bad or broken bulb will cause an entire section to go out. In this case, you must identify the problem bulb and replace it with one of the extra bulbs included with your tree.

Step One: A light tester is designed to check for current. The first step in identifying the problem bulb is to locate the section of unlit bulbs.

Step Two: Use your light tester to test whether there is current going to each bulb within the section of unlit bulbs. To do this, firmly place the spaded end of the light tester in between the two wires at the base of the bulb, making sure that the wires are touching the metal contacts on the light tester probe. Now, press and hold the test button. If current is detected, the green indicator will light. If no current  detected, the red indicator will light. If neither indicator lights, the bulb is good, but no current is reaching the bulb (Image H).

Tip: Christmas tree bulbs are powered in a series. Therefore, when neither indicator lights, you should be close to the location of the problematic bulb. If multiple branches in a tree are out, test one bulb on each branch until you reach a branch that results in neither indicator lighting. If this branch is immediately next to a branch with bulbs that did receive a response from the light tester, then you should be close to finding the problematic bulb.

Step Three: Continue checking the series of unlit bulbs on the branch showing no indicator light using the tester until you reach the socket where the red indicator lights.

What should I do when all the lights on my prelit Christmas tree won’t light?

Step One: Make sure the power cord(s) is plugged into a wall socket, and that the wall socket is working.

Step Two: Ensure that each section of your prelit tree is properly connected to its corresponding section.

Step Three: Check the power plug(s) to ensure the fuse has not blown. This is done by unplugging the power cord(s) from the wall, and sliding the cover (Image I) on the side of the plug(s) toward the prongs, exposing the fuses inside (Image J). Look inside to see if the line inside the fuse is split, which indicates a blown fuse. If that is the case, simply take the blown fuse out and replace it with one of the spare fuses included with your tree. Only use the appropriate fuses which should be identified in the instruction sheets or identified on the plug itself.

How can I straighten out my Christmas tree when it is leaning?

Note: A leaning tree is usually the result of the tree pole not being fully seated in the stand (See Christmas Tree Assembly, Step 5).

Step One: Loosen the eye bolt slightly to the point where the bolt becomes flush with the inside wall of the pole slot in the stand, but not so far that the eye bolt comes out or causes the stand to collapse.

Step Two: Adjust the pole so that it correctly settles into place and then re-tighten the eye bolt.

Is it common for a bulb on my Christmas tree to burn out?

Yes, sometimes bulbs simply burn out. When this happens, replace the bulb with one of the extra bulbs provided with your tree.

How long is my Christmas tree's warranty, what is covered and who can I contact for support?

You can have confidence knowing that your tree was built to last. All Red Sleigh™ premium artificial Christmas trees are covered by a limited warranty guaranteeing that the workmanship and material for each tree will remain free from defects for up to 10 years from the purchase date, and that the factory lights included on all prelit artificial Christmas trees will remain free from defects for up to 3 years from the purchase date.

For warranty support, please first contact the authorized Red Sleigh™ dealer where the product was purchased. Authorized Red Sleigh™ dealers can help to answer any questions you may have and will work with you to quickly resolve the matter.

If, after contacting the authorized Red Sleigh™ dealer where you purchased your tree your issue remains unresolved, please submit your inquiry directly to us using the Contact page on this website.

What is PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and should I be concerned about artificial Christmas trees made from this material?

PVC is a safe and lightweight plastic, used not only for the construction of artificial Christmas trees, but also in many household applications including drinking water lines, home appliances, prescription bottles and more.  The PVC incorporated into Red Sleigh&trade trees is a high grade, stable and durable plastic, able to withstand decades of wear and tear.  While fire resistant, PVC is also recyclable. In fact, in order to reduce waste, our factories go to great lengths to try and reuse any left-over PVC created during the manufacturing process.  Finally, it's important to note that when compared to other plastics, PVC uses just 70% of the energy required for production, making it a more environmentally conscious choice.

What is PE (polyethylene) and why are some artificial Christmas trees made from this material?

Polyethylene plastic is a popular alternative to PVC, which can be custom molded into a shape and texture consistent with tips and branches found on live forest trees. PE is unique in that all of the waste produced from the manufacturing of the material can be melted down and is utilized at our factories to produce items like bubble wrap, plastic bags and other tree packaging materials.

Should I be concerned about the amount of lead used to produce artificial Christmas trees?

Many questions have been raised recently about the lead content contained in artificial Christmas trees and their light strings. Like all electrical components, wiring included on Red Sleigh Christmas trees contain only trace amounts of lead. In comparison, electrical cords used on most household appliances contain the exact same small amount of lead used in artificial Christmas trees to insulate the wiring. Our goal at Red Sleigh&trade is to limit the amount of lead contained in our trees, and in this effort, our factories have been directed to use the lowest lead content possible while still meeting the insulation safety standards required by law.