Keeping Your LED Bulbs From Burning Out Early

When you purchase LED bulbs, you expect them to last longer than your old incandescent bulbs did. But the reality is that the way you use your lights matters just as much as what brand you buy. Taking a few minutes to learn about LED health will save you a lot of trips to the hardware store.

The Hidden Danger of Trapped Heat

Even though LED bulbs stay cool to the touch, the tiny electronics hidden inside the base are actually creating a lot of heat that needs to escape. If you tuck a standard LED bulb inside a tight, enclosed glass bowl or a recessed ceiling fixture, the heat gets trapped and slowly cooks the circuit board. This is the reason why expensive bulbs fail early because they simply cannot breathe in those cramped spaces. Always check the label on the box to see if the bulb is rated for enclosed fixtures before you screw it into a tight spot.

Choosing the Right Switch for the Job

If you have a dimmer switch that was built 20 years ago, it was made to handle old bulbs that used a lot of electricity. It might be slowly killing your new LEDs. Older dimmers often send choppy pulses of power that make modern lights buzz or flicker. This puts a considerable amount of stress on the parts inside the bulb. You might notice that your lights act jumpy when you try to turn them down. This is a clear sign that your switch and your bulb are fighting each other. Switching to a modern dimmer that is specifically built for LEDs ensures that the power stays smooth and steady.

Watching Out for Dirty Power Triggers

Sometimes, the large appliances in your house that kick on and off throughout the day can interfere with the health of an LED bulb. When your heavy air conditioner or your old refrigerator starts up, it can cause a sudden spike in electricity that travels through your walls and hits your sensitive lightbulbs. These little jolts of power can cause the light to dim or stop working entirely. You can protect your whole house by using a surge protector at your electrical panel. Or you can try to avoid putting your most expensive LED fixtures on the same circuit as a giant chest freezer.

It is very tempting to buy the cheapest pack of bulbs you can find. However, those bargain bin lights often use low-quality parts that cannot handle everyday use. A high-quality bulb has a heavy base made of metal or special plastic that pulls warmth away from the light-emitting chips. When you hold a cheap bulb and a good one in your hands, you can usually feel that the better one is heavier and feels more solid. Spending extra today means you won’t be climbing a ladder to replace a dead bulb again in six months. If you have concerns or require lighting services, contact Blaze Air in North Carolina.