Working as a Heating Professional Can Lead to Success

Why Your Light Bulbs Keep Blowing

20 March 2020

Abbie Wade

Light bulbs don't work forever — they have definite lifetimes just like other products. However, something is wrong in your house if your light bulbs keep blowing prematurely. Below are some of the reasons for such premature and frequent bulb blowouts.  

Poor Heat Dissipation

Most bulbs generate some heat during operation. Your light bulbs dissipate most of the heat it generates into the surrounding air. Each light bulb has a maximum level of heat it can safely handle. Without adequate air circulation, the heat remains trapped around the bulb and can overheat the bulb. Overheating might occur, for example, if you accidentally cover up a bulb (say with house decorations) or use the wrong bulb in a recessed fixture.

Poor Voltage Matching

Bulbs draw varying amounts of electrical energy (wattage). Light fixtures also deliver different amounts of electrical energy. A mismatch in wattage between the bulb and the light fixture can lead to premature bulb blowout. Even the light fixture can overheat and burn.

Overvoltage

Bulbs also draw different voltages. Some bulbs use 130V, others 120V, and others (low-voltage bulbs) only draw 12V. Minimal overvoltage (voltage beyond the rated level) might not hurt your bulbs. However, too much overvoltage can cause bulbs to overheat and blow. Power surges, insulation failure, and incorrect wiring can all lead to overvoltage.

Loose Connections

Your bulbs can also blow out if they are not snug in their sockets. A loose connection can produce arcing or sparking, which produces electrical fluctuations. Again, this can shorten the life of the affected bulbs and cause a premature blowout. You also risk electrical fires if you continue to use such bulbs.

Vibrations

If you still use filament light bulbs, then mechanical vibrations can also cause their damage. Filament bulbs use thin wires as their sources of light. The wires heat up, glow, and produce light. However, the heating also weakens the filament. Once a filament gets hot and weak, vibrations can easily cause it to snap.

Low-Quality Bulbs

Lastly, the problem might not even be your wiring, but rather your bulbs. Light bulbs, just like other electrical items, differ in quality. For example, low-quality filament bulbs might have unusually thin filaments that can burnout prematurely. Cheap LED bulbs also have lower operating hours than high-quality ones. The low-quality versions might not even reach the advertised hours.

Constant bulb blowouts might be a symptom of an underlying problem that can even cause an electoral fire. Consult an electrician to diagnose and fix the problem before a disaster strikes. 

To learn more about light bulb issues, contact an electrician near you.

Share

Search