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Good Housekeeping’s home improvement director advises turning lamps off when you leave a room, mainly to reduce energy use and avoid preventable heat hazards. He says a UL-certified lamp can be left on indefinitely under normal conditions, but nearby flammable materials, hot halogen bulbs and bulbs above a fixture’s wattage limit can raise the risk.
Good Housekeeping’s home improvement director recommends turning a lamp off when you leave the room, rather than following a fixed time limit. Dan DiClerico says an appropriately used UL-certified lamp can be left on indefinitely without a fire risk from the fixture itself, but heat from a bulb can ignite nearby materials or damage a lamp if it is used incorrectly.
The guidance comes from a Good Housekeeping report about whether it is safe to leave a lamp on while away from a room or overnight. DiClerico, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, says his rule is to switch lights off when leaving. He acknowledges that people do not always follow that practice, including when they want to return to a lit home or fall asleep with a bedside lamp on.
DiClerico says the lamp is generally not the main fire concern if it is UL certified. The more immediate hazard is contact between a hot bulb and something combustible. Curtains, bedding, upholstered furniture and paper should be kept away from lamps, and a shade should not lean against the bulb. The source does not give a specific safe distance, so readers should follow the lamp manufacturer’s instructions rather than assume one universal measurement.
Bulb and fixture specifications also matter. DiClerico warns that halogen bulbs run especially hot and says work lights using them should be switched off when not in use. Each fixture has a maximum wattage, commonly shown near the socket; exceeding it can produce heat that may melt a shade or damage wiring. For LED bulbs, the report says to check actual wattage, not the incandescent-equivalent number printed on packaging. A 60-watt-equivalent LED typically draws about 10 watts, according to the report.
Heat Risks Depend on Setup
The advice matters because a lamp left on is not automatically a fire hazard, but its placement, bulb and wattage affect the risk. A lamp beside a curtain or bedding, or one fitted with a bulb above its stated limit, can create a different hazard from a properly installed fixture with clear space around it. The report’s distinction helps avoid both blanket reassurance and unnecessary alarm.
Switching a lamp off when a room is empty also reduces electricity use, the report says. For people who want a light on before they arrive home, DiClerico points to a plug-in timer or smart plug as ways to schedule a lamp instead of leaving it on all day. The report does not quantify the energy or cost savings, which would depend on the lamp, bulb, schedule and electricity rates.
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The Report’s Lamp-Safety Advice
The source is a Good Housekeeping consumer-safety report addressing an everyday question: whether lamps can remain on while someone is out or asleep. Its central recommendation is to turn lamps off when leaving a room, but it does not describe a universal maximum number of minutes or hours. Instead, it frames the answer around safe use and avoidable energy consumption.
The report relies on comments from DiClerico, whose role at the Good Housekeeping Institute involves home improvement and outdoor products. It also points readers to a lamp’s UL mark and the fixture’s wattage label. Those checks address different issues: certification is presented as an indicator of the lamp’s safety, while wattage limits help prevent excess heat from an incompatible bulb. The source does not cite independent testing or provide a detailed explanation of certification standards.
“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.”
— Dan DiClerico, director of the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab
No Universal Time Limit Given
The report does not set a maximum duration for leaving a lamp on, despite its headline framing the question around how long is too long. DiClerico’s answer is to switch it off when leaving the room, while also saying a UL-certified lamp can remain on indefinitely without a fire risk from the lamp itself. The source does not specify testing conditions for that statement or address every lamp design, installation or fault.
It also gives no fixed clearance distance between a lamp and combustible materials, no estimate of the likelihood of a fire in different setups, and no figures for potential energy savings. The advice is general; readers should check the label and instructions for their particular lamp and bulb. The report does not discuss faulty wiring, damaged lamps or other electrical problems that could change the risk.
Check the Fixture Before Use
Readers can apply the report’s advice by checking the lamp for a UL mark, locating its maximum wattage label and confirming that the bulb’s actual wattage does not exceed that limit. They can also move the lamp away from curtains, bedding, furniture and paper, and switch off halogen work lights when they are not being used.
Anyone who wants a light on at a particular time can consider a timer or smart plug, as suggested in the report. The source identifies no further investigation, regulatory action or scheduled update. Its immediate recommendation remains to turn lamps off when leaving a room, while treating bulb type, placement and fixture instructions as relevant safety factors.
Key Questions
How long does Good Housekeeping recommend leaving a lamp on?
The report gives no specific number of minutes or hours. Dan DiClerico recommends turning lamps off when leaving a room, while saying a UL-certified lamp can be left on indefinitely without a fire risk from the fixture itself under proper use.
What makes a lamp more likely to create a fire hazard?
The report identifies contact between a hot bulb and flammable items such as curtains, bedding or paper as a concern. It also warns against exceeding a fixture’s maximum wattage, which can create enough heat to damage a shade or wiring.
Are halogen lamps different?
Yes. DiClerico says halogen bulbs get especially hot and advises switching off fixtures that use them when they are not in use.
Can I leave a lamp on while I am away?
The report says a UL-certified lamp can be left on indefinitely without a fire risk from the lamp itself, provided it is used appropriately. It recommends switching lamps off when leaving a room; a timer or smart plug can schedule a light for your return without leaving it on all day.
How should I check an LED bulb’s wattage?
Use the bulb’s actual wattage, not its incandescent-equivalent rating, and make sure it stays within the lamp’s stated maximum. The report says a 60-watt-equivalent LED typically draws about 10 watts.
Source: goodhousekeeping.com
