For those of us who love Christmas, nothing creates a festive and cozy ambiance like the perfect decorative Christmas lighting. The sun sets early in the winter, giving us extra time to enjoy the holiday mood. But most of us doubt how long we can keep our Christmas lights on for reasons that range from safety to eco-consciousness.
You may like to keep your outdoor lights on all night or use your smart Christmas lights as a nightlight with their magical holiday glow. Often, you may simply forget to turn them off during the day and worry you may have ruined them or created a safety hazard. So what is the limit to keeping your LED Christmas lights on?
The short answer: While you can technically leave Christmas lights on for 24 hours, it is definitely not recommended, and we will get into all of the reasons in this post. For the best balance of merriment and safety, keep lights on for no more than 6-8 hours in the evening and turn them off when they’re not in use and you are not home.
Here are 6 major concerns when it comes to keeping Christmas lights on for extended periods of time and advice on keeping safe:
- Fire safety: The biggest worry of all is fire risk especially when it comes to older incandescent bulbs or lights on real Christmas trees, which can dry out and become more flammable over time. The biggest risk occurs when leaving lights on unattended for long periods of time, particularly overnight. Make sure to use LED lights which produce less heat than traditional incandescent lights. But most importantly, turn lights off when unattended.
- Energy consumption: Traditional incandescent lights consume significant electricity. Even with the shift to more efficient LED lights, you may still worry about energy costs, especially if keeping lights on for extended hours. Even if using energy-efficient LEDs, leaving lights on continuously throughout the season adds up to wasted energy over time. Twinkly smart Christmas lights guarantee unparalleled vibrancy and brilliance while reducing energy consumption with LED technology and giving you access to easy-to-use features that regulate use. All Twinkly smart lights feature a timer to turn on and off automatically. If you forget to set your timer, you can turn smart lights off directly from your smartphone using the Twinkly App.
- Wear and tear: Keeping string lights on for long hours can lead to faster wear and tear, especially with older or low-quality strings that may not be as durable. But even with new lights, prolonged use means replacing them sooner than planned.
- Longevity of lights: Continuous use shortens the lifespan of any lights. LEDs last longer than traditional bulbs, but even they will wear out faster when left on nonstop. Incandescent lights last from 1,000 to 3,000 hours; Twinkly smart LED lights last up to 30,000 hours, which means that the same devices can be used for years if treated well.
- Environmental impact: We are all more environmentally conscious and wonder what impact our lights have on the planet. LED lights have provided a unique solution to this concern because they consume less energy and last longer, creating less waste, but you still want to follow eco-friendly practices and create less waste. Read this article for eco-friendly Christmas ideas for a greener holiday.
- Electrical overload: This is a big concern, especially when talking about larger displays and multiple decorations connected to the same power source. Keeping lights on around the clock can strain and overload circuits, creating a fire hazard. Spread out the power load, limit usage time and make sure you know the capacity of your electrical system. Remember that LED smart lightscan help lessen the load because they consume significantly less energy than traditional bulbs.
Here are other tips to keep your home safe and your lights working properly:
- Use safe extension cords: If your indoor and outdoor Christmas lights require extension cords, follow safety precautions. For outside displays, use heavy-duty, outdoor-rated cords and ensure they're not overloaded. Indoors, avoid running cords under rugs or through doorways where they can be pinched. Make sure your smart LED light power controllers are not placed over or under any rugs or materials.
- Monitor Christmas lights for overheating: Even with LEDs, regularly check that lights and wiring are cool to the touch. If you notice any flickering, dimming, or smell any unusual odors, unplug immediately.
- Use surge protectors: Plugging your Christmas lights into a surge protector provides an added layer of protection against potential power surges that can damage the lights or cause sparks.
- Indoor vs. outdoor Christmas lights: Use lights rated specifically for outdoor use when decorating outdoors, as these are designed to withstand rain, snow, and other elements. Indoor lights lack the waterproofing needed for outdoor conditions. Check out this article on how to safely set up your outdoor Christmas lights.
- Limit lighting usage when sleeping or out: For extra safety, keep lights off when you’re asleep or away from home, particularly with indoor lights on natural Christmas trees. With Twinkly lights use the timer feature or access the on/off controls anytime from anywhere using the Twinkly App on your smartphone.
