CFL Lightbulb Burned Out and It Still Smells - Help!
Connecticut Yankeeeee
2 years ago
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apple_pie_order
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Indulge me a VENT! Holy lightbulb shopping!
Comments (24)DestinyVP - have you installed and used them yet? Quality control of the products at HD and Lowes aren't perfect, so I would imagine you get a lot more duds in the bunch at a store like that, but based on what you paid it's still probably a net win! good for you! Jujubean - once i learn a new skill i'm usually happy to share it, but in this case if i never see another lightbulb it'll be too soon. :) Basically, decide what color you want first as the same kelvin scale applies to all types of lights whether you get all CFL, all LED or mix and match. If you want soft white like incandescent, your shopping will be a lot easier! and if you're not in a time crunch that will make it easier too as you can order from lots of different places to get exactly what you want. Seww - "green built" homes in our area refer only to using materials and systems that are energy-saving. it doesn't factor in, unfortunately, anything else like wasteful use of materials on site, and we are not restricted to renewable resources or anything like that. Nonetheless, I'm so grateful we found a builder that's so keen on energy efficiency here....See MoreHopefully Last Decision -- Light Bulbs for Recessed Cans
Comments (17)I went with dimmable CFLs in my basement. I had approximately 15 cans on one switch (and one other smaller section with approximately 8 bulbs on its own switch) and although I bought a 1000 watt max dimmable switch, the wattage (60w x 15 = 900 watts) would result in the switch becoming very warm to the touch. Also, the heat generated by all those bulbs made the room too hot. There are GE 15w CFL dimmable bulbs that look exactly like regular 60w floods (the spiral light bulb is inside another glass bulb that is identical in shape to a regular flood bulb). They sell at Walmart for about $12. I think they come with a 5 year guarantee, but I never keep receipts. I think I have had one burn out in about 2 years. I never see these bulbs for sale at Home Depot or Menards, but Walmart has carried them for years. As another post above mentioned, it does take a minute or two for the bulbs to get to full brightness, but once they're lit you would never know you're using CFLs....See MoreWhat kind of light bulbs do you have around your house?
Comments (37)The terms 'daylight' and 'soft light' etc are too vague. You need to be looking at the kelvin rating. Usually soft light is more yellow and is around 3000 kelvin, while daylight bulbs are more blue'ish and are around 5000-6500 kelvin. I personally have bought LED bulbs for the fixtures that actually get used a fair amount, because it's usually in those locations where the efficiency will actually pay off at some point. Where as in locations where the bulbs are hardly ever used, being more energy efficient isn't worth the additional up front cost of the bulbs themselves. I use 6500 kelvin bulbs in the bathrooms and kitchen where I really need to be able to see what I'm doing, and I use 2700k bulbs in the dining room, living room, and bedrooms where I want something that's easier on the eyes and more relaxing....See MoreWho is stockpiling incandescent light bulbs?
Comments (62)I haven't read through all these posts as I'm at work, but what Magna said struck a chord. My global warming group talks about this often, that the only way BIG change will be made, regarding cars/fuel, CFLs, changes in energy, will only be done when it's a legal change to do so. I have a feeling that the CFL focus is sort of a baby step towards larger lifestyle changes in the future. Look at the digital change occurring in February for another example of a blanket change. At some point energy and fuel will be coming from alternate sources, and depending on your state that could be more of an issue than others, but it will take the govt to say that by this date that the change will be made. Home building is an example also, that better building practices (better being relative to energy consumption/retention)will eventually have much tougher standards, perhaps the requirement of solar shingles, thicker studs that allow for better insulation, tankless water heaters...etc. I dunno....just things I've read about. Any how, I am ok with CFL's, I don't have a problem with the white light, but I do use the daylight bulbs where I can, and I do needlpoint, so I appreciate the white light in certain locations. The chandy issue I resolved by getting a dining room fixture that doesn't feature the bulbs! You can't see them in my fixture, so I can even use the twirly ones! I know that doesn't work for all, but that works for me! I also think that the CFL technology will improve a lot in the next few years time! They do have dim-able bulbs now, and also I haven't experienced the 30 second drag time that occurred when you'd put a light on with a CFL a few years ago...that was dreadful. Also, there is like a pin drop amount of mercury in each CFL. Way less that in a thermometer...but people go sticking thermometers in their mouth all the time! That's just as fragile, and has much more mercury! I'm not sure if it was mentioned, but you can return burnt out CFL's to Home Depot and Ikea....See MoreConnecticut Yankeeeee
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