Is It Safe To Leave Candles Lit Overnight?

Is It Safe to Leave Candles Burning Overnight?

The flickering glow and pleasant aroma of a burning candle can make for a soothing bedtime ritual. However, leaving a candle burning while you sleep comes with potential dangers that you should carefully consider.

On one hand, an unattended candle poses obvious fire hazards. But even if a blaze doesn’t ignite, candles release toxins and leave behind residue that can pose risks with prolonged exposure. Understanding these potential dangers is key to making informed decisions about overnight candle use.

This guide covers the safety considerations, risks, and best practices regarding leaving candles burning overnight. With some key preventative measures, it may be possible to allow a candle to safely burn while you slumber. But caution is advised, as a moment of negligence can lead to catastrophe.

Fire Risks

Candles are one of the leading causes of house fires in the United States. According to data from the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS), candles caused an estimated average of 9,300 home fires per year between 2014-2018, resulting in 86 deaths, 827 injuries, and over $298 million in property damage annually. Candles were the cause of 4% of reported home fires during this time period (Source: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/statistics/v6i1.pdf).

The majority of candle fires are a result of human error and negligence. Common causes include placing candles too close to combustible materials, leaving them unattended, or tipping them over. Issues with the candle itself can also lead to fires, such as excessive wax pooling, instability, or poorly trimmed wicks which produce larger flames. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), two out of every five home candle fires start because the candle is too close to something that can burn (Source: https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/candles). Proper placement, supervision, and maintenance are key to preventing fires.

Mitigating Fire Risk

There are several key precautions that can mitigate the fire risks of leaving candles lit overnight. According to the National Candle Association, you should “Never leave a candle unattended.” It’s crucial to extinguish all candles before going to sleep or leaving a room. Candles left burning overnight can easily start accidental fires. Using fire-resistant candle holders made of non-flammable materials like glass, metal or ceramic can also reduce fire risks if a candle were to tip over while unattended.

The Fmins blog warns to “Never burn a candle on or near anything that can catch fire” like curtains, furniture, or flammable decor. Keep burning candles on sturdy surfaces at least 12 inches from anything flammable. Trim wicks to 1⁄4 inch before lighting to prevent high flames and blow candles out completely before leaving them.

Taking simple precautions like extinguishing unattended candles, using appropriate holders, and keeping them away from flammables can significantly reduce the risk of fires if you accidentally leave candles burning overnight.

Toxins Released

Burning a candle produces soot, which are fine particles that can circulate in the air and be breathed in (1). Long term exposure to soot from candles can have health impacts, especially for those with respiratory conditions like asthma. Soot contains carcinogens and has been linked to increased cancer risk (2).

The wick of some candles also contain lead, which can enter the air when burned. Exposure to lead is linked to numerous health issues, especially in children. Lead exposure impacts brain development and function (3).

Scented candles release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when burned. These VOCs include chemicals like formaldehyde, benzene, and toluene which have been associated with irritation of the eyes, skin, and respiratory tract (4). VOCs can circulate indoors and contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Sources:

(1) https://candles.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Summary-of-07-Okometric-study-on-candle-wax-emissions.pdf

(2) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9832800/

(3) https://nypost.com/2023/02/17/candles-release-toxic-chemicals-that-go-directly-to-our-lungs-expert/

(4) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9832800/

Ventilation Importance

Proper ventilation is crucial when burning candles overnight. Candles produce smoke and release potentially harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. Without adequate airflow, these contaminants can build up to unhealthy levels (source).

Experts recommend opening a window, using a fan, or running your HVAC system while burning candles. Circulating fresh air helps minimize the concentration of smoke, soot, and VOCs in your home. Stagnant air allows contaminants to accumulate, increasing health risks. Targeted ventilation like exhaust fans over stove tops where candles are burning can also help extract smoke and odors efficiently.

If you light candles in a bedroom, be sure to open a window or use a fan even just a crack. Letting some fresh air circulate all night long helps prevent a buildup of particulates on surfaces and in your lungs as you sleep.

Child/Pet Hazards

Leaving candles burning overnight poses significant risks to children and pets in the home. Young children may be drawn to the flames and accidentally knock candles over, starting fires (source). Pets like cats and dogs can also inadvertently knock over candles by bumping into them or swatting at the flames. Children may also intentionally play with the open flames, leading to accidental burns or property damage.

Experts recommend keeping all burning candles up high, out of reach of children and pets. Candles should be placed at least 12 inches away from anything flammable and not left unattended. It’s best not to leave candles burning at all in rooms where children and pets have access overnight. Extinguishing candles before leaving the room is the safest practice.

Alternatives for Overnight Lighting

Leaving a candle burning while sleeping or away from home can be dangerous. There are safer options for low-light overnight lighting that do not pose a fire risk. Two popular alternatives are electric candles and essential oil diffusers.

Electric candles provide the ambiance of real candles without an open flame. Many are designed to look and flicker just like the real thing. Brands like Yankee Candle offer flameless candle options that can safely stay on overnight. Just be sure to turn off any electric candles before leaving home to avoid waste.

Essential oil diffusers also add pleasant light and aroma to a space overnight without fire risks. Ultrasonic and nebulizing diffusers gently diffuse essential oils in water to create a subtle scented mist. Just be sure to use 100% pure essential oils and clean the diffuser regularly. Diffusers should be kept out of reach from children and pets when running overnight unattended.

When It Can Be Safe

While leaving candles lit unattended overnight is generally not recommended, there are some circumstances when it may be acceptable if proper precautions are taken:

If candles will be left briefly unattended for a short period of time (no more than 30 minutes), the risk may be low as long as they are monitored by adults periodically. However, it’s best to blow out candles before leaving a room for an extended period of time.

Having responsible adults in the home awake and alert can allow for candles to be left burning overnight more safely. Adults should check on the candles frequently to ensure they do not get too close to the end of the wick or tip over. The surroundings should also be checked for any potential fire hazards.

Candles that are enclosed in glass containers may pose less of a fire risk if left burning overnight with monitoring. The glass protects the flame from drafts and prevents wax from spilling out.

Battery-operated flameless candles eliminate fire risks and can provide ambiance overnight without worries. These realistic-looking candle options are a safer alternative to real wax candles.

Extinguishing Properly

When it comes time to put out your candle, you’ll want to avoid blowing it out. Blowing out a candle causes smoke and unburned wax particles to be released into the air. According to the experts at Fernweh Editions, “When you blow out a candle, you’re releasing all of that unburnt wax into the air in the form of smoke” (source).

Instead, you should use a candle snuffer or wick dipper. As Hotel Lobby Candle explains, “Candle snuffers are designed to extinguish candles without releasing smoke particles. To put out your candle, hold the snuffer over your candle and lower the bell end onto the lit flame. Once your snuffer fully envelopes the flame, hold it there for 5-10 seconds” (source). This traps the smoke inside and prevents it from being released into the air.

Wick dippers work similarly – use the tip to press the wick into the melted wax to extinguish the flame. The Cut recommends this as the best smoke-free method: “Use a wick dipper to bend the wick into the wax. This method is used to extinguish the flame without any smoke” (source).

By avoiding blowing out candles, you can help reduce smoke, toxins, and scent particles in your home’s air.

Conclusion

Leaving candles lit overnight presents several safety hazards that require careful consideration. The open flame poses an obvious fire risk, especially if left near flammable materials or while people are sleeping. Toxins released from the melting wax can also accumulate in enclosed spaces without proper ventilation. Furthermore, unattended candles are especially dangerous around curious children and pets.

With the right precautions, it may be possible to leave some candles lit overnight. Using candle holders that fully contain the flame, positioning them far from anything flammable, and keeping doors open for ventilation can help mitigate some of the risks. Battery-operated flameless candles present a safer alternative for overnight or unattended use. In general, it is best practice to extinguish all candles before going to sleep or leaving them unattended for long periods.

In summary, while candles can add ambiance, their open flames do require constant monitoring.Evaluate your specific situation carefully before leaving candles burning overnight or unattended. With vigilance and common sense safety practices, the cozy glow of candles can be enjoyed reasonably safely in the right circumstances.