My wife was always taught that leaving Christmas lights on, either exterior or interior, was a huge fire hazard. She said she's heard of many stories about houses burning down because they left the Christmas tree lights on or whatever. She considers exterior, like off gutters, lights just as dangerous and see's no real need to leave them on after going to sleep. It was too the point where she almost couldn't sleep comfortably knowing they were plugged in. I guess she considers them a high risk, due to how her family has always done it and taught her and the stories she's heard.
I on the other hand have a different up-bringing. I've always left my Christmas lights on all night long. Exterior mostly, sometimes interior lights as well. We plug in the exterior icicle lights (or whatever) when it gets dark and unplug them in the morning. We've done this for many years without any problems.
So naturally, being our first Christmas married and together, we had a small heated 'debate' when it came time for bed and she wanted to unplug the lights.
I feel as long as a wire isn't overloaded, if you don't have too many lights off a thin cord, if you have adequate extension cords and everything is wired properly and all cords are in good physical condition, then the chances of a fire are so minimal as to not really worry about it at all. I know that anytime you plug anything in at all, it's a danger, but are christmas lights really that much worst?
I've gone on drives with my mom years ago through the neighborhood looking and admiring other peoples christmas lights and effects, I remember being disappointed everytime I could see a house was decorated but the lights were off. I like to leave my lights on, show people I celebrate Christmas and I've decorated, it may not be a whole lot, but it's something.
For an idea of the lights, we have a 50 bulb (like 15 ft) multicolored mini-lights strand around the outside of the door of our patio. Also on the patio is an artificial wreath with lights built into it. It's lit as well. Maybe 75 bulbs at most. The 50ft strand runs into an outlet on the outside of the house (no extension cords running inside) and the wreath plugs into an extension cord and into it's own outlet as well. The interior lights, the christmas tree, has about 300 lights on it, their the mini-multi-colored type. They run directly into an outlet. The cords are all brand new, not frayed or worn or beat up by the weather. Risks? |
