purpleowl Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 If you decorate with outdoor Christmas lights, when do you have them turned on? We have some outdoor lights, and we generally turn them on when it's starting to get dark, and turn them off again when we're going to bed. I learned the other day that my in-laws only turn theirs on if they will be at home. We turn ours on even if we're going out for the evening. We don't leave them on if we're out of town, though. I've also noticed on my way to the gym (about 5:45 AM) that several houses have their lights on then. I don't know whether they leave them turned on all night, or get up and turn them on early, or leave them on 24/7 during the Christmas season. So, if you do outdoor Christmas decorations, when are your lights on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edelweiss Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Our outdoor lights are on timers and go on automatically when it is getting dark. They stay on all night long and go off automatically in the early morning. This is what our whole neighborhood does as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 We have a timer set for 4:30-10:30, though we override that for a few days right around Christmas :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UCF612 Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 I flip them on when it starts to get dark and my husband flips them off when he's locking up for the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 On around dinner time, off at bedtime. Most of our neighbors do the same but a couple leave their lights on all day and night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angie in VA Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 For those of you who leave them on all night, how much more does your power bill go up this month? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GailV Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 We have a timer set for 4:30-10:30, though we override that for a few days right around Christmas :) This is what we do also. Although we have two timers that have to be perfectly synched or else the light czars at our house get twitchy. :laugh: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sherry in OH Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 We have them on a timer. They come on at dusk and stay on for the number of hours we select, currently 6. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carriede Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 When we have a timer, it's usually 5pm-11pm. But DH couldn't find the timer, so until he does, they're on 5ish - 10ish which is when we close down for the night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny in Florida Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 I bought a timer, but we haven't gotten around to plugging it in yet. So, it usually works out that we just leave them on. For those of you who leave them on all night, how much more does your power bill go up this month? Ours are LED, so our power bill doesn't really budge even when we forget and leave them on. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
forty-two Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 We have them on a timer. They come on at dusk and stay on for the number of hours we select, currently 6. This is what we do, too. For those of you who leave them on all night, how much more does your power bill go up this month? The first year we moved up north, we ended up leaving our lights on 24/7, because plugging and unplugging them in the cold proved beyond us wimpy southerners ;). They were regular lights, and yes, our power bill went up 50% or more - it was ridiculous. Thus why we got the timer - saved the cost of the timer in our power bill in the first year alone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 We turn them on when dh gets home around dark, and off when dh goes to bed. The switch is in our master closet, so it gets turned off/on when we are up there. Dh changes clothes after work, so he is upstairs around that time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacia Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Ours are on timers & stay on for about 6 hours at night. I've thought about leaving them on longer because my dc have always enjoyed seeing homes w/ lights on in the early morning (still dark) when heading to school. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 (edited) I LOVE Christmas lights! I turn mine on and leave them on until I take them down. We never notice a jump in the electric bill because there is usually a cold snap or two during that time. Heating my house makes that bill jump. Whatever few dollars it takes to run the Christmas is more than made up in the fun and pleasure I get from them. Probably cheaper than going to a movie. My husband used to have an odd schedule--we might be coming or going at 2am or 4 am. We aren't the only ones moving around that time of night. It is always nice to see the lights during those dark nights. I also enjoy seeing the color and glow on a gloomy day. The plus side is that no one can tell if we are home or not...at least by the outdoor lights. ETA...because I KNOW y'all want to know. I also put lights and décor in my backyard. A manger scene up in one corner, small funky tomato tower and burlap trees by the firepit. A lighted wreath on the back porch. Did I mention I like Christmas lights? Edited December 8, 2015 by Happy 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 If you decorate with outdoor Christmas lights, when do you have them turned on? We have some outdoor lights, and we generally turn them on when it's starting to get dark, and turn them off again when we're going to bed. I learned the other day that my in-laws only turn theirs on if they will be at home. We turn ours on even if we're going out for the evening. We don't leave them on if we're out of town, though. I've also noticed on my way to the gym (about 5:45 AM) that several houses have their lights on then. I don't know whether they leave them turned on all night, or get up and turn them on early, or leave them on 24/7 during the Christmas season. So, if you do outdoor Christmas decorations, when are your lights on? We have timers, so all the lights come on when it gets dark and stay on for five or six hours. I don't want possible burglars to know when I'm gone, which is why we use timers. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamiof5 Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 I think we have a timer from 6-10pm, or 11? Not totally sure... dh sets it up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 dark until we go to bed. So, roughly 5pm - 10pm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted December 8, 2015 Share Posted December 8, 2015 Dark until 1:00 pm here. I want to keep them on all night, but DH says it wastes electricity and we don't see them when we are asleep. I feel they are for the neighbors and passersby enjoyment, as well as our own enjoyment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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