# 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:** 2
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/21 "2017-04-11T17:55:21Z")
If I am going out for an evening walk (45 minutes or so) I leave them on. Otherwise I turn them off. ---
**Author:** ![Azeotrope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/0ea827/32.png) [@Azeotrope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Azeotrope)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/22 "2017-04-11T18:01:26Z")
One lamp in my foyer stays on 24/7. I’m a klutz and the light switches aren’t close to the door, so I’d rather not fumble around in the dark tripping over furniture and the cat trying to get the lights on. ---
**Author:** ![SmellMyWort](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SmellMyWort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmellMyWort)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/23 "2017-04-11T18:23:57Z")
Depends. If I remember I’ll turn the entry way light on before leaving if I know I’ll be back after dark. But that’s if I’m heading out in the afternoon or evening. I don’t leave it on all day in the winter when it’s dark by 4:30. I also have some decorative candles that I have timed to turn on around dusk, so those will be on. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/24 "2017-04-11T18:36:30Z")
We have one light on a timer so there’s always a light on from roughly dinner time to bed time. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/25 "2017-04-11T18:50:18Z")
I’ve got one light on a timer that turns on around nightfall. ---
**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, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/26 "2017-04-11T19:44:26Z")
For the folk who have a light always on a timer - why? I guess w/ LEDs the cost is negligible. I’m kinda fanatic about turning off lights that I’m not using. ---
**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, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/27 "2017-04-11T19:54:07Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > For the folk who have a light always on a timer - why? > > I guess w/ LEDs the cost is negligible. I’m kinda fanatic about turning off lights that I’m not using. I like my lights going on and off every day, so that any would-be burglar can’t tell I’m out of town by the changing pattern. Also, if I come home after dark, I want it to already be light inside. I guess it just comes down to security. ---
**Author:** ![Fleetwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fleetwood/32/271_2.png) [@Fleetwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fleetwood)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/28 "2017-04-11T21:28:15Z")
Light and radio on for the dogs. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/29 "2017-04-11T21:34:31Z")
The light in my fish tank stays on, and there’s also a light high up on the living room wall that does too (that one stays on 24/7). Honestly, I’m not sure how I’d turn that one off without unplugging it; it’s not like I’m going to climb a ladder to reach the off switch… ---
**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, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/30 "2017-04-11T21:45:19Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > For the folk who have a light always on a timer - why? Because I want the lights to be on when I get home, when it’s dark. But I don’t want them on all day, when its bright and shiny. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/31 "2017-04-11T21:58:08Z")
Yes, I leave a light on so the house isn’t dark when I enter. Also so that it doesn’t appear no one is home. Oddly, though, I don’t lock my door unless I’m gone for 24 hours or more. My house is nice, but there really is nothing worth stealing inside. ---
**Author:** ![SamuelA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@SamuelA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SamuelA)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/32 "2017-04-11T22:31:07Z")
Every one of my lights is an LED (well, ok, a few lights in seldom used rooms are CFLs). But I also use motion sensitive switches to save even \*more \*power. So when I’m not home, maybe 1 light is still on. ---
**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, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/33 "2017-04-11T22:37:15Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Yes, I leave a light on so the house isn’t dark when I enter. Also so that it doesn’t appear no one is home. Oddly, though, I don’t lock my door unless I’m gone for 24 hours or more. My house is nice, but there really is nothing worth stealing inside. Joke will be on you when you get home and all of your light bulbs are gone. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/34 "2017-04-11T23:53:25Z")
If I’m going to be returning home after dark, I’ll leave one or two lights on – usually the fluorescent light under the cupboards in the kitchen (one gets to the garage through the kitchen), and possibly a small light in the dining room, just so the rest of the house isn’t pitch dark. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/35 "2017-04-11T23:54:51Z")
Just a couple in order to be considerate. Why should burglars always have to work in the dark? ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2017, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/36 "2017-04-11T23:56:06Z")
If I know I’m going to be back before dark, I leave lights off. If I’m not sure, or won’t be home before dark, I leave one on as to not trip over the for sure crazy puppies who will for sure be trying to kill me in the dark. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/37 "2017-04-12T00:17:25Z")
> [@Azeotrope](#): > > One lamp in my foyer stays on 24/7. I’m a klutz and the light switches aren’t close to the door, so I’d rather not fumble around in the dark tripping over furniture and the cat trying to get the lights on. Well, if the cat is trying to get the lights on it deserves to be tripped over. 🙂 Truthfully, we leave a light on by the door for same reason except it’s a dog _and_ a cat to avoid tripping over. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/38 "2017-04-12T00:27:00Z")
Not intentionally. Never have. I may leave some on because I forgot, but that’s about it. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/39 "2017-04-12T00:42:15Z")
I hate coming home to a dark house. Also dogs. I’m sure I’ve quoted this before in one of these threads, but from the great Donald E. Westlake’s novel _What’s the Worst That Could Happen?_: “There was a single light burning, the one householders leave on to let the burglars know there’s no one home.” ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2017, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238/40 "2017-04-12T00:48:19Z")
For the hell of it, from Westlake’s _Smoke_: “There are two kinds of vans. One has windows all around the sides and back, so the kids can look out on the way to Little League. The other only has them on the driver and passenger sides in front, so the police can’t look in on the way back from the felony.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-you-leave-your-home-do-you-leave-an-interior-light-on/784238.md?page=3)