Some brands of CFL bulbs do seem to last longer than others. I bought my last big package of CFLs in They have their detractors, but CFL bulbs really do save energy and money. And in , when I had modern bulbs and did a few other things, my power usage dropped 19 percent. Fix those issues before you switch to LEDs. As for LED longevity , they do typically last the 10, hours the package says they will.
Two readers pointed with alarm to a study by Stony Brook University researchers, which found that most CFL bulbs have defects that allow UV radiation to leak at levels that could damage skin cells if a person is directly exposed at close range. In the meantime, she recommends that users shield the bulbs inside fixtures, stay one to two feet away from them, and avoid staring directly into the CFL bulb.
That advice is basically consistent with the U. That is true of the regular CFL bulbs sold in stores, but most of the LED bulbs on the market today are, in fact, dimmable, according to Horowitz.
He advised consumers to look for LEDs whose packaging indicates that they work with dimmer switches. Take Our Poll. Share Tweet Email. Read This Next Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London. Animals Wild Cities Wild parakeets have taken a liking to London Love them or hate them, there's no denying their growing numbers have added an explosion of color to the city's streets.
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Advertisement Now, less then a year later, 4 of the 6 bulbs in our bathroom have burned out within days of each other. Needing to replace them so soon was a bitter pill to swallow. On top of that, disposing of them is a bit of a hassle. They do contain trace amounts of mercury and, if not disposed of properly, that mercury will just end up in the landfill.
They will recycle the bulbs, but not everyone is so lucky. Did we use the wrong type of CFL? No, if used properly these bulbs should last for years. The problem is where we put the bulbs and how we used them.
The "compact" part of the bulb is not only referring to size of the fluorescent bulb, but also the fact it is it's own self contained bulb and ballast. Being able to make a functional ballast that small and adapt it's shape to a standard screw in light fixture is what made them such an easy replacement for incandescent bulbs. Advertisement So the problem is that most fluorescent lights, especially CFLs, are designed to be on for at least hours once they are turned on.
Turning them on and off within a few minutes repeatedly will drastically shorten their lifespan. That's why they work so well for lighting commercial spaces, but not so much for the bathroom vanity. So the best way to use CFL bulbs and really get your money's worth is put them in places they can stay on for long periods, once turned on. We have found that they work well as porch lights and in our living room, because those lights don't get used until after dark but tend to be left on for awhile.
LED light bulbs do not have this problem and will be a good alternative in the future. For now though, they seem too expensive for what they are worth. That is too much right now, even if it does use less energy. Advertisement For now, we are going back to the old wasteful incandescent bulbs for our bathroom. We are going to use the lowest wattage possible and be mindful of turning off the light when we are not in the room, the exact behavior that burned out the other bulbs.
This fix won't last for too long though because incandescent bulbs will be phased out by By stewmangroup. Editors Note: Would you like to share your own experiences with CLF or other energy efficient lighting options?
Post your ideas here! Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom! Comment m May 6, 0 found this helpful Thanks for sharing this! But isn't the gov't making us change soon? This should be brought to their attention! Yes, I also replaced the old burned out bulbs with the new "energy saving" bulbs in my bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom. Solution: Shut off the power at the breaker, and then remove the fixture. The wires inside the junction box should all be connected tightly with wire nuts.
Or, have an electrician inspect the wiring for you. If the problem with frequent burned out bulbs seems to be throughout your entire home, the problem could be with fluctuations in the electrical service to the house. The electrical current flowing into your house should be at a steady volts.
Even a small amount of variation can damage light bulbs, appliances, and other electrical components.
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