# When you leave your home, do you leave an interior light on? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238 "2017-04-11T15:47:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/1 "2017-04-11T15:47:13Z")
As a companion piece to [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=20130203&posted=1#post20130203), when you leave your home and it will be dark before you return, do you leave a light on or not? Why? I have historically tended to leave one light on, but have questioned that practice of late. I think my irrational idea is that it will make the house look occupied and dissuade burglars. But, since I usually choose a small lamp in clear view of my undrawn shades, I’ve often thought it does not persuasively portray occupancy. My neighborhood is quite safe, with very infrequent burglaries. But when I drive up to my completely dark house, I often think, “Well THAT house looks unoccupied!” The way my house is shaped, if I don’t choose a light right in either the front room or front bedroom, it is not obvious from the street. And I don’t want to waste electricity by turning on a bunch of can lights. (Although, since they are LEDs, I probably could…) I’ve heard folk say they prefer not walking into a dark house, but there is a light switch immediately inside all of my exterior doors, so I can flick on the light as soon as I open the door. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/2 "2017-04-11T15:51:28Z")
My wife has about four lights around hour house that almost never go off. They’re LED, so I don’t care too much. She likes the ambiance. So, yes, they’re on when we’re not home, but that’s not _why_ they’re on. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/3 "2017-04-11T15:57:51Z")
I have four lights on timers, so the house is never dark until they all go off around 3 am. So I guess that makes my answer YES. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/4 "2017-04-11T15:59:39Z")
I guess I meant when you leave the house do you intentionally turn on a light which would otherwise be off. Sorry that I wasn’t clear. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/5 "2017-04-11T16:10:57Z")
It depends. How long will I be gone? Who’s home? What time of day is it? If I expect to return after dark, I’'ll leave a light on for convenience, unless one of the family is home - then it’s up to them how much light they want. I don’t worry over-much about security - I have four dogs, for a combined weight of 330# - The three biggest ones frequently step up into the front bay window and lounge there. I used the phrase “step up” deliberately. They’re big enough, they don’t need to jump. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/6 "2017-04-11T16:14:46Z")
Today, **Dinsdale** wants to know if you’ll accept your flight home being late, if your leave your window easily peepable and if there’ll be a light on at night while you’re gone. Hrrmm… 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/7 "2017-04-11T16:17:20Z")
No. I live on the second floor, and the switch that lights up the foyer staircase also turns on my hallway light. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/8 "2017-04-11T16:18:23Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Today, **Dinsdale** wants to know if you’ll accept your flight home being late, if your leave your window easily peepable and if there’ll be a light on at night while you’re gone. Hrrmm… 😛 [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLz07TaTDEA) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/9 "2017-04-11T16:21:38Z")
I have five lights that I never turn off, they stay on until the bulb burns out. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/10 "2017-04-11T16:43:20Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > Today, **Dinsdale** wants to know if you’ll accept your flight home being late, if your leave your window easily peepable and if there’ll be a light on at night while you’re gone. Hrrmm… 😛 LOL! ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/11 "2017-04-11T17:12:37Z")
I do keep lights on. Both living room lamp and porch light are on a timer. It’s not really for security reasons, though. I just really don’t like coming home to a dark house, and it also makes me sad to imagine my cat waiting hours in the pitch blackness for me to come home. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/12 "2017-04-11T17:16:24Z")
Lights off. When the garage doors go up, a light comes on. That light stays on for three minutes, allowing me/us to enter the house and turn on lights as we go. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/13 "2017-04-11T17:17:25Z")
I leave a light on. I don’t like arriving home to a dark house. One of lives stranger experiences is coming home during a power failure. No street lights, all the houses dark. It’s creepy. Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/14 "2017-04-11T17:18:12Z")
> [@monstro](#): > > imagine my cat waiting hours in the pitch blackness for me to come home. Well, it’s a cat so it can’t be THAT dark for it assuming you windows and ambient lights from LEDs, stove clocks, etc. They’re made for that sort of thing. Edit: Plus its eyes are probably closed 95% of the time anyway 😃 ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/15 "2017-04-11T17:19:20Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > I guess I meant when you leave the house do you intentionally turn on a light which would otherwise be off. Sorry that I wasn’t clear. Yes- I don’t like walking up to a pitch dark house and I do it for the cats and dog. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/16 "2017-04-11T17:19:52Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > One of lives stranger experiences is coming home during a power failure. No street lights, all the houses dark. It’s creepy. Truth. I like complete dark - when there’s _supposed_ to be complete dark. ---
**Author:** ![brainstall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@brainstall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brainstall)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/17 "2017-04-11T17:21:02Z")
I have a couple of fish tanks, so they throw a fair bit of light, but in addition, I do leave a light on if I know I’m going to be late. Walking in to a pitch dark house would scare me - too many places for creepy clowns, bogeymen and axe murderers to hide in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/18 "2017-04-11T17:25:26Z")
> [@brainstall](#): > > I have a couple of fish tanks, so they throw a fair bit of light, but in addition, I do leave a light on if I know I’m going to be late. Walking in to a pitch dark house would scare me - too many places for creepy clowns, bogeymen and axe murderers to hide in the dark. I would have that concern, too, except that all of my closets and such are too full for a creepy clown, bogeyman, or axe murder to hide in. Lights on, partly for the cats, partly to make it look like I’m around. I have a few of the lights hooked to Nest, so I can turn them off and on at will from away. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/19 "2017-04-11T17:44:38Z")
If we’re going out to dinner and I know we’ll be home after dark, I may leave a light on so I don’t have to fumble for the switch when I get home. If we leave early in the day and won’t be home till late, I don’t bother. When we go on vacation, I leave a couple of lights on timers - one in the bedroom and one in the living room. I don’t know if it makes a difference - maybe the cats like it that way. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/20 "2017-04-11T17:51:49Z")
If I’m going out of town I leave a few random lights on, or even put one on a timer. If I’m just going out during one evening I don’t. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238.md?page=2)