Christmas is one of the best times of the year for neighborhood strolls and evening drives. With houses strung with twinkling lights, the holiday ambience is enough to put anyone in the mood.
Lights are most visible at night, which causes many North Americans to leave the lights blinking well into the wee hours. While it might seem like a festive treat for the neighbors, it could lead to problems for your home and electricity over time.
Before leaving lights on, check the label to determine whether the bulbs and wattage can handle a long night of illumination. Generally, we recommend turning them off before bed.
At Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical we know all about the dangers of leaving the lights on. Here’s what you should know about your Christmas lights this year.
Christmas is meant to be a joyful time of year, so we hope you follow safe lighting practices and turn them off at night.
Leaving your lights on overnight has a myriad of potential risks attached to it, including:
You can still enjoy your outdoor lights well into the evening. We just recommend flipping the switch at bedtime, to ensure nothing is left unattended.
For some Denver homeowners, nighttime lights are the best part of the holiday season. If you want your neighbors to enjoy your lights later than bedtime, or if you’ll be out of town but still want to illuminate your home, you can set your Christmas lights on a timer.
Timer systems are great for many reasons. They let you:
Light timers can be customized based on your preferences. Whether you want to set your lights for 4 hours, 8 hours, or 12 hours, you can time when they go on and when they go off with ease.
For Christmas lights, there’s an ongoing debate as to whether it’s more expensive to leave them on or turn them off. The truth is, it depends on many factors, including how often you turn them off. We recommend leaving lights on for approximately 4-6 hours each evening rather than flicking them on and off throughout the day.
As you look for Christmas lights this year, be sure to check the boxes to see whether they are indoor or outdoor lights, and what their wattage is.
Choose new lights if your current strings are more than 5-years old or damaged. Like all electrical devices, lights have a shelf life. Old Christmas lights might be nostalgic, or faithful in their annual illumination, but they also have a higher risk of short-circuiting and causing electrical issues for your home.
It isn’t wise to use indoor lights outside, as they aren’t designed to withstand the cold icy temperatures of winter. They also may not be sufficiently weather-sealed, which could lead to electrocution during damp weather.
Similarly, it’s better to use indoor lights on your Christmas tree and inside decorating, as outdoor lights are normally more intense in brightness and heavier. You don’t want to weigh your tree branches down with outdoor lights and ruin the aesthetic of your decorations.
Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical serves customers across the Denver metro area. Interested in learning more about Bell Plumbing, Heating, Cooling, & Electrical and the services we offer? We invite you to reach out to us today!
We’re ready to answer your questions or schedule your appointment, call now or book online!