How Safe is it to Leave the Tree Lights on Overnight?
By Jeanne Marie
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
United States
December 17, 2018 10:13am CST
I usually retire for the night before my son goes home. He lives next door and is moving, His house is very empty so he hangs out here in the evenings. He has much to do before his move so will be here for a while yet.
He closes up the house when he leaves, locking the doors and turning off the lights.
Several times he has failed to unplug the lights on the tree. The lights are not new but have never shown any problems. They roll through a selection of ways to light up: they twinkle, then flash, then fade, etc through eight cycles.
I wonder if you would leave your lights on overnight when placed on an artifically flocked Christmas tree?
The photo is mine. That's my Christmas tree.
20 people like this
21 responses
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
17 Dec 18
No, I unplug mine nightly. Not just a risk of fire but why leave them on? No one is up to see and enjoy them.
3 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
True enough, but mine are in the front window so any cars driving by at night might think someone is up and about if the tree lights were on. I also get up in the night. Sometimes for a couple of hours. But I do unplug at bedtime and leave them off till morning, I just need to get my son to do the same.
@KOLAMsegaran1 (4137)
• Bekasi, Indonesia
17 Dec 18
Why not? I think it will be a good night,
and I also really like your picture, because it looks great nce
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
17 Dec 18
Thanks, I love my tree! That is my tree in the photo.
@KOLAMsegaran1 (4137)
• Bekasi, Indonesia
17 Dec 18
@Jeanniemaries Do you often do things like that
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
17 Dec 18
@KOLAMsegaran1 I always unplug it at night and plug it in again when I get up in the morning.
1 person likes this
@shaggin (71678)
• United States
17 Dec 18
Oh your flocked Christmas tree looks so beautiful! Did you do the flocking yourself?
I put my lights on when we wake up in the morning and turn them off when we go to bed. I am to scared of fire to leave them on. I did read that flocking the tree is supposed to make more fire retardant.
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
Well that's good news! More fire retardant! I bought it already flocked. I love the icy look and I only put lights on it. No ornaments. Some times I drape garland beads to be more festive, but I like it every bit as well with just lights.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
17 Dec 18
That's what I do too, I have a tree but I don't like ornaments on it. Just lights, I love my tree, The photo is of my tree,
@DesirousDreamer (34780)
• Peoria, Arizona
17 Dec 18
We only leave it on for one night an that is Christmas eve. The rest of the time we unplug it but sometimes we forget. If it is a fake tree I would assume it is oka because lights do not get that hot, it is more about saving energy. My grandma has a timer so she doesn't forget to turn them off, it turns off when the timer goes off.
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
Well that is a very practical idea! I could get a timer!
@DesirousDreamer (34780)
• Peoria, Arizona
18 Dec 18
@Jeanniemaries There you go! They help so much haha
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
17 Dec 18
The lights are pretty! It is my treee in the photo. I love my tree.
2 people like this
@leny34 (8506)
• Sidoarjo, Indonesia
18 Dec 18
@Jeanniemaries yes your tree is really very beautiful
do you decorate it yourself?
@KOLAMsegaran1 (4137)
• Bekasi, Indonesia
17 Dec 18
@Jeanniemaries Oh yeah, that's very true, even I really like it ...
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (171220)
• United States
18 Dec 18
I have left mine on before, they seem to be none the worse for wear.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
20 Dec 18
I've never had an issue either...so far!
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
Yikes! That's enough for me to hear. Definitely will check after he leaves late at night.
@Marilynda1225 (80172)
• United States
17 Dec 18
I always turn mine off but I'm really not sure when it comes to safety issues. I'm sure it's perfectly fine leaving them on overnight.
2 people like this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
17 Dec 18
I think so too. I haven't fussed about it but if someone gave me a good reason not to leave it on overnight, I would show him.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
@DianneN Always! I definitely would err on the side of safety.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
That's why I do it. But I do like to linger once the lights are off to enjoy the tree in the darkness with the lights on before I unplug.
1 person likes this
@redurnet (1799)
• United Kingdom
18 Dec 18
Well, I accidentally left mine on the other night when I went to bed tired. I don't know how I didn't notice the rainbow lights when I switched the main light off but when I got up in the morning I got a shock to see they were still on. It's not something I would do on purpose as I don't like to think of them unattended. I had a neighbour who put outdoor lights on his real fir trees every year and a few years ago I got home and a whole tree was on fire.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
Wow!!! I wonder how old the lights were? Older lights get hot. Sounds like this was an outdoor tree, what a shock to see that!
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
@Courage7 Yes, I would not like to see a permanant move. It's funny because the house they are renting in California is just 11 miles from the house I grew up in. So going to visit them will bring back memories and lots of people to visit.
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
It is only a temporary move for a few years. He is keeping his home next door and they will be back. It's a good opportunity for them.
1 person likes this
@Courage7 (19633)
• United States
18 Dec 18
@Jeanniemaries Oh good to hear that Jeanne.
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (27240)
• Philippines
18 Dec 18
Usually, we unplug the Christmas lights just to be safe and sure.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
I think that is best, but I do love to see them glowing in a dark room!
1 person likes this
@freelancermariagrace (27240)
• Philippines
18 Dec 18
@Jeanniemaries Haha, same here. But better be safe than sorry
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
I feel safer too with them off at night. It's an old habit and no need to break it.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203449)
• Nashville, Tennessee
18 Dec 18
@Jeanniemaries Agree with you.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
17 Dec 18
Same here. I think it should be fine, but was wondering if anyone had a good reason to turn them off at night.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
No, theuy don't heat up. That was the problem when I was growing up. We had dry trees and hot lights. It's surprising we didn't have a fire
1 person likes this
@GreatMartin (23675)
• Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
17 Dec 18
It's better to be safe than sorry--never know when there will be a 'short' in the wire.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
That's true. I never bend the wires tightly though, but you never know. I feel more comfortable at night with the lights off, ,
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
Thank you! I've always wanted a flocked tree and last year I finally bought one.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
18 Dec 18
no, we usually switch off the lights when we go to sleep. it is safety from possible fires.
1 person likes this
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
It makes me sleep better to know the lights are off,
@Jeanniemaries (8237)
• United States
18 Dec 18
I watched a TV show that had a huge tree lit by real candles like the did before electdricity. Honestly, that would scare the tar out of me!
1 person likes this
