When Should You Leave Your Porch Lights On?

Many people leave their porch lights on out of habit or because they forget to turn them off before they go to bed. However, an electrician in Scarborough can tell you that while sometimes having the lights on is necessary, sometimes it simply wastes electricity and causes your power bill to be higher than needed. Here are some guidelines on when you should leave your porch lights on and when you should turn them off. 

On: When You Are Expecting a Delivery

If you are expecting a delivery, especially if it might come after the sun goes down, it is a good idea to leave a light on. The light ensures that the postal worker can see your house number, the path to your door, and possible places to put the package. The extra light may also act as a deterrent to someone looking to steal packages off of people’s porches. Lastly, having a light on serves as a reminder to you to retrieve your parcel from the porch. 

On: When You Go Out and Will Return Later

Having exterior lights on when you return home in the dark prevents you from stumbling or tripping on the way to the door. It is also a safety mechanism as it helps you to notice if anyone is lurking behind the bushes. 

On: When You Are Home in the Evening

Like with package thieves, having porch lights on in the evening helps deter burglars from attempting to enter the house. Burglars want to get in and out of a residence quickly without being seen, and having the area around the house well-lit makes this more difficult. However, it is important to keep the lights on consistently, whether or not you are alone at home or with other family members, for reasons we will explain next. 

Off: When You Are Anxious About Being Alone

If you do not normally turn the porch lights on at night, avoid starting to do so only when your partner or roommate is away for the night, regardless of how tempting it might be. Eagle-eyed burglars who are staking out a residence may notice that you turn the lights on more often when you are the only one at home. Criminals can use this opportunity to break in since one person is less difficult to fight off than two or more. 

Off: When You Live Someplace Rural

In rural areas, burglars are less concerned with being seen by neighbours or passersby on the street. Because of this, the safer option when your residence is off by itself is to avoid consistently using exterior lights. In this case, leaving lights on only serves to make it easier for someone to commit a crime on your property. Opt to leave the lights off to make it more difficult for a shady character to locate doors and windows or see where they are going. 

Off: When You Head to Bed

Leaving a light on all night, every night can indicate that nobody is at home and makes your residence a more attractive target for thieves. If it makes you more comfortable, consider looking for some electrical repair services to install a motion-detecting porch light that only comes on when someone is within a certain distance of your house.

If any of the circumstances where leaving porch lights on applies to you, and you do not have any porch lights, consider having some installed for your peace of mind. Contact Handyman Connection to put in exterior lights or when you need repair work done on existing lights. We want you to feel as safe as possible in your home.