If you’ve ever experienced the saga of a light fixture that repeatedly burns through bulbs, you know how frustrating it is. The good news is that there is often a very simple solution.
(NOTE: Since I’m not an electrician, I’ll leave that stuff to the experts. If you suspect that your bulb is failing due to faulty wiring in your home, get in touch with a certified electrician to rule out any electrical issues.)
So what’s wrong with your bulb? Here are a handful of the most common issues that can cause an early bulb breakdown:
Problem: Excessive Vibration
Bulbs that are subject to lots of vibration are prone to early failure. This is commonly seen in ceiling fans, garage door lights, or underneath a particularly active room like a child’s playroom.
Solution: Look for bulbs labeled “rough service” that are designed with thicker filaments to handle more vibration. Another option is to switch to LED light bulbs, which aren’t affected by vibration since they do not house filaments.
Problem: Bulb Quality
Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. That pack of 10 bulbs at the dollar store may seem like a great bargain, but be ready to change them often.
Solution: Shop for quality bulbs from trusted companies (ahem, Pegasus Lighting).
Problem: Overheating
If your bulb gets too hot, it can greatly reduce its lifespan. Several things can make a bulb burn too hot: Voltage fluctuations, wattage limitations, or being in an enclosed fixture can cause overheating. Certain types of halogen bulbs will overheat when handled with bare hands because the oils from your fingers create hot spots on the bulb.
Don’t be fooled into thinking that since LED bulbs don’t get as hot as incandescents that you don’t need to worry about overheating. On the contrary, LED lights stay cooler because of a built-in heat sink in the base that draws heat away from the LED and into the atmosphere. In an enclosed area, there’s nowhere for the heat to dissipate. Read More
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