How Often Do You Need To Buy LED Replacement Bulbs?
Date Published: January 27th, 2020
Light Emitting Diodes, more commonly known as LEDs, are the future of lighting for homes and businesses everywhere. They are more energy-efficient and more cost-effective, making them both a convenient and consistent lighting choice. However, the LED bulb takeover is still relatively young. As more and more consumers participate in the halogen to LED conversion movement, we may not be thinking ahead about when to buy replacement LED bulbs.
How long do LED bulbs last?
One of the biggest draws for LED lights is that they are supposed to last far longer than other older light bulb types. Most LED bulbs boast a lifespan of up to 50,000 hours, which means that you may not have to splash out on LED replacement bulbs for up to 10 years after your original purchase.
Incandescent bulbs and halogen bulbs will probably only last for 1000 - 2000 hours, compared to up to 100,000 hours for dimmable LEDs. The lifespan of your LED light bulbs will depend on how frequently you use them. As most estimates rely on conservative use, more frequent use can reduce a bulb’s lifespan.
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What affects the lifespan of LED bulbs?
As well as how often you switch your lights on and how long you leave them on for, there are many other factors that can affect how long your LEDs last. LED bulbs are very susceptible to excessive heat or moisture, so their environment can contribute to the speed of LED degradation.
Operating LED light bulbs in ambient humidity and heat can reduce the overall lifespan of the bulbs by up to half. Incorrectly fitted LEDs can also degrade faster, as can LEDs running on electrical currents that are too high. It is best not to mix bulb types in a multi-bulb light installation to avoid problems like these and ensure a longer life for your lights.
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How do you know when it’s time for LED light replacement?
When an LED bulb has an estimated lifespan of 25,000 - 50,000 hours, it actually means that by this point in its life, the bulb will have dimmed to 70% of its original brightness. LED bulbs do not burn out like older bulb types, they degrade over time until they are noticeably dimmer. You will know when it is time for an LED replacement if your lighting is too dim to illuminate the space sufficiently, especially if this is causing eye strain or colour loss.
This might not happen for many years, depending on the type of LED bulbs that you install. It is best to invest in high-quality bulbs which are guaranteed to last much longer.
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How to replace my LED light bulbs?
When it’s time to replace your LED light bulbs, it’s important to choose a type that is compatible with your fittings, as you would have to install new fittings otherwise. Changing the light bulbs can transform the aesthetics of a room if you go for something like a colour-changing LED bulb, a vintage filament bulb, or a diamond-shape one.