The short answer is NO is does not. Electric circuits are designed to be as safe as possible – so technically you can leave a light-bulb socket empty and safely turn the switch on and off but..
So can I leave an Electric Light Socket Empty?
As we saw above – of course you can.. but it’s not a great idea! Leaving a lightbulb socket empty is not safe for practical rather than technical reasons – for starters; one because people can get fingers into sockets – especially little people and two – because bits of dirt and debris or worse – moths and flies and insects can get in there and create a fire – all be it a short but violent one.
Insect and debris in empty light sockets + electricity could cause fire!
Though insects getting caught in an empty light-bulb socket is very rare occurrence – I have seen it happen and the resulting flash could potentially cause a fire if something were to drop down from the socket or who knows what – just don’t leave a socket empty is our advice.
I would say they greater danger is probably someone getting a shock by touching the exposed metal in teh socket – again – hard but sometimes possible with screwdrivers or metal objects that kids play with.
Summary: So – is it safe to leave a light bulb socket empty?
Absolutely NO. Leave the damaged or worn out old bulb or light in place. It might be a good idea to get a permanent black marker pen and write on it ‘D’ for damaged – or whatever will remind you which light bulbs need changing out as you don’t always have them turned on.
Related question: is it safe to leave a light switch on with no bulb in the socket? Answer technically yes – but practically no – don’t do it!
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