Keeping your front porch lights on

Wilwarin

I ordered a pizza on Friday night and went to turn on our porch light so the pizza person could find our house, and I realized that I never turn it on except for this type of situation. I looked up and down our street and noticed a lot of houses had their lights on. The house across the street has it on every night. 

I feel two ways about it. I mean, it is expensive to leave 3+ light on every night, but on the other hand, I imagine it might be a burglar deterrent, because we certainly do not look home when those lights are off (we are never in our front room).

When do you have your porch light on?

luvjon

I leave it on when DH works nights so he doesn't come home to a dark house, or when we have a car parked in the driveway.

LindsaymR

We enter through our back door and have a light on the back of the house that is a motion detector so that comes on. I always leave a light on so when you enter the house you can see but when we go to bed we shut that off. The only time I use our front porch light would be if someone were to stop by and I know they'll come to the front door or if I let my dog outside and it's dark. I never understood leaving it on if you are home.

cubluebride

This is the main reason we got landscape lighting installed.  It was expensive, but it is always on when it is dark (unless a bulb is burned out).  We have the whole front of our house lit up, as well as our back deck, in addition to some of our trees.

Landscape lights + security system always on = less paranoid cubluebride.

krismill

We leave our front porch, outside garage, and back deck lights on all night every night as a burglary deterrent. They're all CFL bulbs, so I'm hoping that helps a bit.

sarahlindsay

We keep our porch lights (and also the garage light since they're all connected) on when it's dark and  always overnight.

shannie21

If I remember, I usually turn it on as soon at I get home from work each night (if I'm coming straight home from day job) and leave it on all night.

workerbee82

yes. Every night. it's on a timer. 

ejgballerina

We leave ours on.  I read somewhere it's a burgler deterrant and it makes me feel better.  Well, that and our two giant dogs.  Lol.

October30

always--ours are auto on from dusk till dawn! We have energy saving lights in them so they last a couple of years.  Their are so many safety elements to it, I wouldn't ever consider not doing it. I also have lights on timers inside the house. I hate coming home to a dark house--not that I leave to often but for when I do.

Wilwarin

workerbee82:

yes. Every night. it's on a timer. 

Talk me about this. This is a timer for outdoor porch lights, or for landscaping lights? 

workerbee82

Front porch light -- on a timer switch (think of a light switch, but with a little dial instead of a flip switch) right inside the front door. I just re-set it every few months or so, as daylight changes. I can over-ride it as needed but rarely need to touch it. we don't have landscaping lights so it's nice to not worry if i come home late or am out of town for a couple days.