When it comes to leaving your Christmas tree lights on all night – every night – there is a level of danger with doing so. Lights, when turned on, produce heat. Therefore, leaving your Christmas lighting on for too long – regardless of whether it’s overnight or over a long period during the day – isn’t recommended.
Are Christmas tree lights a fire hazard?
Lighting equipment and electrical distribution accounted for 45 percent of home Christmas tree fires. Here are the holiday light dangers you need to know: Electrical shock and fire are risks with this combination. Decorate these trees with ornaments, garland, or tinsel, but nothing that needs to be plugged in!
Can You Leave Your Christmas lights on overnight?
In order to test whether or not leaving your Christmas lights on overnight can truly be hazardous (and cause a fire), Hyneman and Savage loaded up a freshly-cut tree with a reasonable five strands of Christmas lights, left it overnight, and came back to find a tree that was perfectly fine.
How dangerous is decorating your Christmas tree?
Decorating caused more than 15,000 injuries resulting in an emergency room visit with falls being the highest at 34%, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Lights Start Fires According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), Christmas lights cause 40% of Christmas tree fires.
Are holiday light dangers you need to know?
Here are the holiday light dangers you need to know: Electrical shock and fire are risks with this combination. Decorate these trees with ornaments, garland, or tinsel, but nothing that needs to be plugged in! Whether your tree is live or artificial, unplug the tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed.
Is it safe to leave Christmas lights on when not home?
Don't Leave Lights on Overnight or While Gone From Home Whether your tree is live or artificial, unplug the tree lights before leaving the house or going to bed. If you have these holiday decorations, watch out for these fire hazards.
Is leaving lights on a Christmas tree on a fire hazard?
Myth 5: Christmas Tree Lights Cause House Fires Christmas lights alone aren't a fire hazard by themselves. However, holiday goers should still avoid overloading extension cords and electrical sockets with strands upon strands of lights in case of a short circuit.
How long can Christmas tree lights stay on?
Expect about 3000 hours which is about 125 days or a little over 4 months of operation if you leave your lights continuously plugged in. (We actually suggest you turn off your lights during the day, and after it gets late to extend the lifespan of your light strings.)
How long is too long to leave Christmas lights up?
For many around the world, January 5 or 6 marks the Epiphany ‒ the final day of the 12 days of Christmas and the time for all holiday decorations to come down. For others, the second week of January is a typical time for the holiday lights to be unplugged and stored away until next year. But it's not that simple.
Can prelit Christmas trees catch fire?
While personal preference is a primary factor for choosing a type of holiday tree, recent research by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) shows that a pre-lit artificial tree can be as much of a fire hazard as a dry natural tree.
How common are Christmas tree fires?
Between 2015-2019 , U.S. fire departments responded to an average 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year. These fires caused an average of two deaths, 12 injuries, and $10 million in direct property damage annually.
Is leaving lights on a fire hazard?
1.) Leaving lights on when you are gone is not only a fire hazard but also increases your electricity bill. Lightbulbs can become very hot and if not used properly can ignite a fire.
Are string lights a fire hazard?
Low Voltage, Low Risk And because they can get very hot, they are a fire hazard when placed in close proximity to combustible materials, such as trees.
Do Christmas lights get hot?
Joking aside, based on semiconductor technology rather than heating a filament like an incandescent bulb, LED bulbs and light strings do not heat up under operation.
How long can you leave a tree wrapped with lights?
In some cases, a tree should be fine having lights on it for 1 full year. Yet, it is better to play it safe and remove the lights at the end of the Christmas season: 3-4 months max.
How long can you leave string lights on?
LED light strings have highly reliable build quality and are a resilient technology. You could leave them on 24 hours a day, every day and be fine for years, technically speaking.
Can you leave Christmas lights on overnight fake tree?
Fire risks are present when using an artificial tree due to the electrical component of lights built into an artificial tree. Because of this, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends always turning off Christmas tree lights of any kind "before leaving home or going to bed."
Are string lights a fire hazard?
Low Voltage, Low Risk And because they can get very hot, they are a fire hazard when placed in close proximity to combustible materials, such as trees.
Is leaving lights on a fire hazard?
1.) Leaving lights on when you are gone is not only a fire hazard but also increases your electricity bill. Lightbulbs can become very hot and if not used properly can ignite a fire.
How long can you leave string lights on?
LED light strings have highly reliable build quality and are a resilient technology. You could leave them on 24 hours a day, every day and be fine for years, technically speaking.
Do Christmas lights get hot?
Joking aside, based on semiconductor technology rather than heating a filament like an incandescent bulb, LED bulbs and light strings do not heat up under operation.
What percentage of Christmas tree fires are caused by lighting?
Lighting equipment and electrical distribution accounted for 45 percent of home Christmas tree fires. Here are the holiday light dangers you need to know:
Why shouldn't you run lights through doors?
It should go without saying but you shouldn’t run lights through doors and windows because the cord can become damaged, creating a dangerous electrical situation.
How many strands of LED lights can be strung together?
Any more than that and we’ve created a potentially dangerous electrical situation. If you’re using LED lights, you can probably relax — as many as 40-50 LED mini-light strands can be strung together safely.
How to keep a live Christmas tree hydrated?
In the event of a fire, a dry tree will burn much faster than a well-watered one. Use these Christmas tree safety tips to make sure your tree stays hydrated.
Can you plug in Christmas lights with an empty socket?
It’s dangerous to plug in a strand of Christmas lights with an empty socket, so it’s important to test your Christmas lights with a bulb tester. Here’s how to use a bulb tester for your Christmas lights.
Can you use nails to hang Christmas lights?
Never Use Staples, Tacks or Nails to Hang Lights. Staples, tacks and nails can pierce Christmas light strands and create a potential electrical shock. It’s best to use plastic holders designed to hang Christmas lights.
Can outdoor lights be interchangeable?
It seems pretty obvious but people sometimes think they’re interchangeable. They’re not — unless they’re marked that way on the package. Lights designed for outdoor use are made to withstand cold and wet conditions.
Why do Christmas trees burn?
The cause of one in every four home Christmas tree fires stems from electrical problems, the NFPA reported. This can definitely become an issue quickly with artificial trees that use electricity to keep the lights on, and become especially dangerous and damaging if you are not home or are asleep when a fire begins.
When Should You Unplug Your Artificial Tree?
Because of this, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends always turning off Christmas tree lights of any kind "before leaving home or going to bed."
Can artificial trees prevent fires?
When purchasing an artificial tree, there are steps you can take to help prevent a fire from igniting. A representative from artificial tree manufacturer Balsam Hill explained to Romper via email that looking for an artificial tree with certain safety elements can help reduce fire risks, including purchasing a tree that features a flame retardant compound.
Do artificial trees have cords?
The cords of artificial trees are where much of the danger can lie, according to Austin. "Inspect cords for physical damage prior to use after unpacking," he says. "Also be careful of cord placement, and do not create a tripping hazard by placement across walking areas."
Is Balsam Hill tree flame retardant?
Despite the flame retardant nature of some artificial trees, Balsam Hill still recommends that consumers take proper precautions to prevent fire damage from spreading throughout the home when you're unable to be monitoring your tree. "Don't forget to turn off the power and close off your holiday-decorated rooms when you leave your home or go to bed," they tell Romper. "This guarantees your trees and ornaments will stay safe even when you're not around."
How to secure Christmas lights between tree and outlet?
If you need to use an extension cord or have a long strand of lights between your Christmas tree and outlet, make sure you secure all loose light strands with electrical tape to avoid tripping and falling. If you have loose light strands outdoors, secure them with ground staples found at any hardware store.
How to safely hang Christmas lights off the roof?
Since falls are the highest emergency room-related injury during the holidays, it’s important to know how to safely use a ladder when hanging Christmas lights off the roof of your home or in any other space that would require a ladder.#N#Have a spotter with you at all times to hold the ladder for stability and don’t put it at too steep of an angle. To prevent tipping when hanging Christmas lights, never extend your body further than parallel with the ladder. Consider a wooden or fiberglass ladder when you’re working with Christmas lights to prevent an electric shock.
How to stop Christmas lights from tipping?
To prevent tipping when hanging Christmas lights, never extend your body further than parallel with the ladder. Consider a wooden or fiberglass ladder when you’re working with Christmas lights to prevent an electric shock .
Why do you need LED lights for Christmas?
LED lights are cool to the touch, compared to traditional Christmas lights, and use less electricity – a nice way to lower your electric bill. Since most holiday fires are caused by overheated lights on a Christmas tree, switching to LED lights could prevent your tree from catching fire.
What is UL certification for Christmas lights?
Some Christmas lights will include a UL Safety Certification, meaning that the lights have been designed and manufactured to meet industry specifications for safety from Underwriters Laboratories (UL), an independent product safety certification origination.
How many injuries did decorating cause?
Decorating caused more than 15,000 injuries resulting in an emergency room visit with falls being the highest at 34%, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
Is it dangerous to hang Christmas lights?
Whether you are decorating for yourself or decorating in order to stage your home, most homeowners can agree that hanging Christmas lights will be the most time-consuming task for the holidays and one of the most dangerous.
How to minimize the risks of Christmas lights?
One of the best ways to minimize these risks at least somewhat is to use a timer. A Christmas light timer can work well to control how long the lights are on, therefore reducing at least some of the frustration you may have when it comes to keeping them on all night. For example, you can set them to turn off in a couple of hours, reducing your risks right away.
Why do you unplug your lights before bed?
This is best for several reasons. It helps to minimize the risk that your home will suffer damage from a fire due to a spark or accident. Second, it helps to reduce the amount of electricity you are using. Yet, many people want to leave Christmas lights on all of the time.
Can you use UL rated lights outside?
For outside house lights, keep in mind that the same rules apply. For example, you need to consider lights for the home that are safe to use in exterior conditions and with changing weather. Be sure the products you buy – whether it is a light-up inflatable or a simple light – are all UL rated. Use them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations to ensure complete safety.
Can you use indoor Christmas lights long term?
For example, you can find a wide range of indoor Christmas lights designed for long term use from trusted manufacturers. Look for the UL rating on them as well. Follow all warnings by manufacturers about how to use these lights.
Can you use a timer for outdoor Christmas lights?
Timers can help here, too. It is never best to use numerous lines of power and dozens of electrical cords when creating these types of outdoor Christmas light displays. It can create a risk to you and your family.
Can you overuse an electrical outlet?
Remember never to overuse electrical outlets either. Learn how many watts of power each of the light strains need. Do not try to place too many strands of lights onto the tree and overload the power limits present. That can present a dangerous problem for property owners.
Can you use a live tree as a light?
This may include lights that are designed for long term use. They should be a higher quality product. Additionally, it never possible to do this if you are using a live tree. These tend to be more brittle and more likely to catch on fire. Whenever choosing any type of lights for your home, you want to make sure you are not placing them where the conditions are very dry and likely to catch on fire.
