Do you have a light bulb in your home that is constantly burned-out? Maybe every time you look up at the lights in your ceiling fan or in your downstairs bathroom there’s one bulb that never seems to be working. You may even find yourself saying: Didn’t I just change that bulb? Check out some facts on how long a light bulb should last. Also, learn a few common reasons why some light bulbs keep burning out.

Bulb Life

A traditional incandescent bulb is designed to last for about 1,000 to 2,000 hours. Alternatively, LEDs last for about 25,000 to 50,000 hours. So, if you put either of these into a light fixture in your home and they burn out within a very short time, you know there’s an issue.

A Loose Light Bulb

A light bulb can burn out quickly when it’s not screwed tightly enough into its fixture. Flickering is an indication that a bulb is receiving intermittent amounts of voltage. A bulb should be turned until it fits snugly into the fixture.

The Light Bulb is Screwed in Too Tightly

It’s possible to screw a light bulb too tightly into a fixture. This can cause burnouts as well. When someone puts too much pressure on a bulb when screwing it into a fixture, it can bend the brass tab located at the bottom of the socket. A bent brass tab leads to arcing between the bulb and the brass tab. This results in quick burnouts. A bulb should fit snugly in a light fixture, but not too snugly.

Using the Wrong Kind of Bulb

Will any type of bulb do for any lamp or fixture? The answer is a firm no. There’s a reason why a package of bulbs is assigned a particular wattage. The wattage of the bulb must match the wattage assigned to a light fixture. So, if you put a 150-watt bulb into a lamp requiring a 60-watt bulb, the bulb is going to overheat. The bulb is going to burn out in a short amount of time. Furthermore, putting a high wattage bulb in a fixture designed for a low watt bulb can lead to a fire.

Broken Filaments Due to Vibration

When a bulb’s filament breaks, the light goes out. A vibrating fixture can bring on a broken filament. Think of a ceiling fan that is not fixed securely and tends to wobble or vibrate when it operates. This can cause a burn out. A light bulb located near wobbly automatic garage doors encounter this issue as well.

Loose Wiring

Sometimes the wiring between a circuit and a fixture can become loose. This can cause flickering and eventually a burned-out bulb. Sometimes wiring becomes corroded and that can cause burn outs as well. This is definitely an issue that should be handled by a qualified electrician in Lakeland. You want to bring in a professional who can check the wiring safely and make the right adjustments.

Incompatibility with a Dimmer Switch

Lots of people have dimmer switches in their home. But, a light bulb has to be designed to fit with a particular dimmer switch. If it isn’t the bulb is likely to burn out fairly quickly. Maybe you have a dimmer switch that was installed in your home long ago. There’s a good chance that the dimmer switch will only work with an incandescent bulb.

Voltage Level is Too High

In most homes, the standard voltage for outlets in most rooms is 120-volts. This is appropriate for reading lamps, radios, toasters, etc. But, some outlets are designed to supply a large amount of power to appliances like ovens, refrigerators and clothes washers. These outlets handle 220-volts of power. Plugging an item that needs a standard amount of power into a 220-volt outlet will burn out a bulb rather quickly.

Overheating Due to Insulation

Do you have some recessed lights in your home? This could be a light in a hallway, kitchen or bedroom that’s located inside the ceiling. All you can see is the glowing light and none of the workings behind it. If the insulation surrounding a recessed light is put in too close to the light’s housing, then the light can overheat causing a blown bulb. This should be checked to avoid a possible fire.

If you have flickering light bulbs in your Lakeland home or some that just won’t stay lit, our experienced team of electricians can help! Contact our office today to schedule a visit from a qualified electrician. We’ll diagnose the issue and provide a solution so you can enjoy reliable lighting in your household!