Expert consulted: 
Maybe you leave the living room lamp on when you head out for the evening so you don't come home to a dark house, or you fall asleep with the bedside light still glowing. It's an easy habit to slip into, but how long is too long to leave a lamp on?
The answer is simpler than you might expect: don't leave it on longer than you're in the room. "As a dad, I go with the 'dad advice' of always turning off the lights when you leave the room, to help keep the electric bill in check," says Dan DiClerico, director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. That said, he admits it's not always realistic, so here's what you need to know about when a lamp left on becomes a real problem.
Is leaving a lamp on a fire hazard?
The lamp itself usually isn't the issue. "Any lamp that's UL Certified can be left on indefinitely without the risk of fire," DiClerico says. (Look for the UL mark on the lamp's label before you buy.) The bigger risk is what's around it. "There is the chance of the bulb burning hot enough to ignite a flammable material that might be touching it, say a curtain or bedspread," he explains.
That means placement matters. Keep lamps a safe distance from curtains, bedding, upholstered furniture, and stacks of paper, and make sure a shade isn't tilted so it rests against the bulb.
Be extra careful with halogen bulbs
Not all bulbs run equally hot. "Halogen bulbs, which are found in a lot of work lights, get notoriously hot, so those fixtures should definitely be turned off anytime they're not in use," DiClerico says.
Check the bulb's wattage
Every lamp has a maximum wattage, usually printed on a label near the socket. Using a bulb that exceeds it can generate enough excess heat to melt the shade or degrade the wiring, which can eventually lead to a fire. If you're using LEDs, go by the bulb's actual wattage rather than its "equivalent" rating. A 60-watt-equivalent LED typically draws around 10 watts and produces far less heat than an incandescent bulb.
The bottom line
Turn your lamps off when you leave the room. It's the safest choice, and it'll save you money on energy, too. If you like coming home to a lit house, a plug-in timer or smart plug lets you schedule a lamp to switch on and off without leaving it on all day.
Noah Cortez is a Brooklyn-based writer and editor writing about
travel, culture, food, and lifestyle. Prior to this, he was a social media
editor at GQ Magazine, Complex, and Conde Nast Traveler, and his writing
has been featured in Tripadvisor, Hotels Above Par, Conde Nast Traveler,
and more. Find out more at noahcortez.com.
Having written thousands of product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership, from routine maintenance to major renovations, Dan (he/him) brings more than 20 years of industry experience to his role as the director of the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. A one-time roofer and a serial remodeler, Dan can often be found keeping house at his restored Brooklyn brownstone, where he lives with his wife and kids.
