Socket Science: Replacing Your Light Bulbs Shouldn’t be Confusing!

By Randy Bett

Replacing your burnt-out light bulbs has become a more confusing task of late, not just because of recent legislation that means some products will no longer be available, but because of the dizzying array of new products on store shelves. Houses and electrical issues go hand in hand, sometimes bulbs can seem like they constantly need repairing. In this case, you may have wiring issues in your house that could be causing your bulbs to fail regularly. If this is an issue for your house, then it may be worth considering an electrician. You may be able to find information and advice on pages similar to https://qualityelectricllctn.com/electrical/wiring-and-rewiring/ but you can find local electricians as well by asking friends and family for recommendations.

However, once this issue is fixed you will still need to make sure you are getting the correct light bulb for your house light fixtures. Most importantly, you would need to check if you are installing the light bulb correctly. House owners sometimes fail to install a light bulb correctly, which leads to broken filaments, resulting in a blown bulb. Nevertheless, in order to avoid such situations, homeowners can call someone like the Derry electrical installers, who are known to be quite popular among their customers for such tasks.

Anyway, coming back to the topic, below is a guide to help you find the right bulb for the job.

Light bulb packaging is very informative – provided you know the lingo. Defined here are a few key terms:

• Watts. It may surprise some to learn that watts don’t refer to a bulb’s brightness, but to its energy use. The lower the watts, the less energy the bulb consumes, and the cheaper it is to use.
• Lumens. Lumens measure the amount of light output – the higher the lumens, the brighter the bulb. Being able to compare the lumens (brightness) of bulbs of the same wattage (energy consumption) is very handy for determining which bulb is more efficient.
• Color Temperature. Despite being measured in Kelvins (K), color temperature refers not to heat but to light appearance. At the bottom of the scale (2,700K to 3,000K) is “warm” or “soft” light, that yellowish glow we associate with traditional incandescents; in the middle of the scale (3,500K to 4,100K) is “cool” or “bright” light; and closer to the top of the scale (5,000K to 6,500K) is “daylight”, that bluish light that’s been a source of complaint for many CFL and LED light bulb purchasers.
• ENERGY STAR ®. light bulbs bearing the ENERGY STAR ® logo have met strict, third-party tested and certified standards of energy efficiency; as a result, they use 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs.

As incandescent light bulbs disappear from stores, let’s look at the three basic types of bulbs you’ll have to choose from for your indoor lighting needs:

• Halogen. These bulbs are as close as you’ll get to traditional incandescents. They look the same, offer comparable light quality, are dimmer-compatible if you install lutron maestro dimmer switches, and produce light the same way. Unlike incandescents, they use halogen gas (which isn’t hazardous), making them slightly more energy-efficient. Costing more and lasting longer than incandescents, halogens are a suitable choice for ambient, general lighting. Just don’t touch their glass and be warned as they get very hot.
• CFL. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are a significant step up from halogens in terms of cost, energy efficiency, and lifespan. Their life is shortened by frequent on/off switching, though, so they’re best used where they can be left on at length. Common complaints – the bluish hue, long warm-up time, and lack of dimmer-compatibility – are being addressed by manufacturers. Containing a small amount of mercury, CFLs require special cleanup and disposal methods through resources similar to solids handling equipment services by companies who offer a wide range of disposal methods from the large to the small, so they are handled correctly and safely.
• LED. Slightly more energy-efficient and significantly more costly than CFLs, light-emitting diode bulbs are much, much longer lasting, making them far and away the most cost-effective option. Unlike halogens and CFLs, however, LEDs are unidirectional, meaning they cast light in only one direction; as such, they’re best used where bright, focused (or task) lighting is needed. While LEDs are dimmable, many bulbs are compatible only with certain dimmers.

Add these helpful hints to your list of renovations or updates to maximize your return!

Randy Bett has been involved with real estate investors and real estate investing for the past 7 years as an investment realtor, investor, author and real estate consultant. His experience includes residential real estate investments of condos, single family homes and smaller multi-suited residential properties. He has also worked extensively in the sale and acquisition of larger multi family apartments-both for condo conversions and for apartment investments-for local and overseas clients. Contact Randy at Randy@RandyBett.com

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