Light bulbs can’t keep on burning forever. In fact, an incandescent bulb’s average lifespan is only 900-1000 hours. Depending upon your usage, a light bulb effectively works for around 5-6 months, if you are using them for 6-7 hours a day. However, not all light bulbs complete their lifespan and fuse out early. There are plenty of reasons why light bulbs keep burning out quickly. In this blog we will explore all the reasons along with the possible solutions for it.
Top Reasons and Solutions for Early Light Bulb Failure
Here are some of the most common reasons why light bulbs keep burning out quickly.
- Large bulbs for the fixture
- Poor quality bulbs
- Dimmer switch not suitable
- High voltage
- Short circuit
- Wrong type of bulb
- Loose connections
- Fixture vibration
- Depressed socket tab
- Insulation
Let’s discuss these reasons in more detail and also explore their possible solutions.
Bulb wattage mismatched with the light fixture
Most homeowners don’t realise it, but light fixtures come with a maximum wattage rating. If the rating exceeds this, it can cause overheating, which can lead to light bulb failure or fused light bulbs. For instance, placing a 100 watt bulb in a fixture rated for 75 watts may cause the light bulb to burn out quickly. Using a larger bulb than the fixture can also lead to an unexpected fire or short circuit.
If you find the light bulb burning out faster than expected, open the light fixture’s globe and see inside if the bulb wattage is too large for the rating of the fixture. Kindly note that this isn’t usually a problem with LED light bulbs, but is more common in incandescent light bulbs where it is quite easy to exceed the rating of the light fixture by using light bulbs that are too large.
Solution: Before buying the light fixture, check out the number of watts it can hold. Choose an appropriate bulb that suits this rating. It is also recommended not to interchange light bulbs between rooms. If in the living room a 60 watt bulb is being used and in the bedroom you are using a 100 watt light bulb, then they can’t be swapped or else they won’t work in either of the rooms.
Poor quality light bulbs
One of the most common reasons for light bulbs burning out quickly is the use of cheap or inferior bulbs. If you find that your light bulbs are burning out too quickly, try changing it to a quality brand and see if the problem still persists.
Solution: Try investing a little more on good quality light bulbs which will eventually save you money in the long run, since you will be replacing them less often. Professionals recommend checking the solder connection on the bottom point of the light bulb. If the solder connection point is small and not half-mooned as it should be, the light bulb won’t be able to make any good connection to the lamp socket’s center tab, which connects it to the lamp. A slightly compromised connection can create greater resistance resulting in the connection point getting heated up. This might lead to premature bulb failure and the light bulb might explode.
Unsuitable dimmer switch
If the light bulbs in a fixture controlled by a dimmer switch burn out quickly, there is a good chance that the wall switch uses the wrong kind of dimmer. The dimmer switches that were designed earlier used the standard incandescent bulbs only. If you use fluorescent or the most commonly used LED bulbs in the light fixture, the standard dimmer switch may not work. It will damage the circuitry at the bottom of the light bulb which will lead to premature light bulb failure.
Solution: You will have to search the local market and buy dimmer switches that are designed to work with LED light bulbs. Just replace the old dimmer switch with the one compatible with LED light bulbs and the problem will be solved!
High voltage
One of the reasons why light bulbs keep burning out quickly is high voltage. Line voltage exceeding the normal range can be a source of trouble. The standard household circuits are rated for 120 volts, but in reality the voltage fluctuates between 110-125 volts, which is acceptable. The light bulbs in your home can survive a fluctuation between the above ranges. But if the voltage exceeds 125 volts, it can burn out the light bulbs faster.
Solution: Keep a check on the line voltage. If your voltage reads between 130-135 volts, then ask your utility company to check the incoming voltage and fix it accordingly or you might end up losing your precious electrical appliances.
Wrong bulb
Fluorescent light bulbs usually go bad before their time. Although it is generally claimed that they have a longer lifespan, in most cases this is not true and the light bulb burns out faster than expected. This happens more if you switch on and off more frequently. So, it is important to choose and carefully select the right kind of bulb for your home. If you have playful kids around who like to play with the switches and buttons, then it is best not to invest in fluorescent light
Solution: Switch to LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. They’re not only more efficient, long-lasting, but they also don’t contain mercury like fluorescent bulbs do.
Loose connections
A loose bulb in the socket flickers on and off more often. Make sure you tighten the light bulb within the socket to rectify the problem. Another reason for premature light bulb failure is a loose wire connection where the circuit wires connect to the light fixture. Loose connections create an electrical resistance, allowing the heat to pass through the filament of the light bulb. This can cause the bulb to explode or causes the light bulb to fuse out.
Solution: Just turn off the power and make sure to check the wires so that they are securely attached to the screw terminals before turning on the power. Keep a check on the bulb socket, it can also have worn out or corroded contacts which can cause connection problems. Simply replace the socket or the light fixture.
Connections that get loose frequently, either at the socket or with the main wire connections, can burn out the light bulb quickly, and it can also cause flickering.
Fixture vibration
Vibration can cause a worn out bulb. You can find this more commonly in ceilings that are wobbly or in areas where there is building vibration or if some drilling work is going on in the building that causes vibration. For instance, houses that are in close proximity to rail tracks can feel the vibrations of passing trains. This can shake the delicate filaments in a light bulb causing loose or weak connections, which inevitably shortens a light bulb’s expected lifespan.
Solution: If you live in an area where vibrations are unavoidable, try a rough-service duty light bulb. These light bulbs come with a plastic coating on the surface which doesn’t allow the light bulb to shatter into pieces if the bulb explodes. They also effectively work well amidst vibrations.
Insulation
Show lights or recessed light fixtures have wiring that extends into the roof. Some recessed light fixtures are covered with the roof insulation, but in some cases the insulation is kept at least 3 inches away to prevent the fixture from overheating. The overheating causes the light fixture to shut off automatically, or it may cause the light bulbs to flicker or burn out prematurely.
Solution: Buy a light fixture that is rated IC or do not cover it with insulation if it is not rated IC. Create a box around the fixture that houses it to allow enough space around the fixture.
Depressed socket tab
The small metal tab at the bottom of a light bulb socket is the connection that delivers electrical current to the light bulb. If the socket tab placed in the bottom of the socket gets pushed down too far, it will fail to make any connection with the light bulb. In this case, the problem is not the burning out of the bulb quickly, it’s the weak connection that deters electrical current from reaching the bulb.
Solution: Unplug the lamp or turn off the power to the fixture. Take an old ice cream stick to bend the tab up about 1/8 inch. Screw the light bulb back in and see if it works.
This kind of repair work may not be possible with old bulb sockets, where the metal socket tab becomes hard and brittle or has lost the spring entirely. In such a scenario, it is best to replace the entire socket or the light bulb fixture.
So, these are the top reasons why light bulbs keep burning out quickly. Before buying a light bulb for your home, you should check out these blogs on:
- Types of light bulbs in Pakistan
- Energy savers or LEDs
- Types of indoor light fixtures in homes
- Tips to save energy at home
- Warm vs. white bulbs: Overview & uses
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