Why Do My Light Bulbs Keep Burning Out?

29 Jan 2019 Licensed Electrician

A frustrating electrical problem that many people encounter is a light bulb that continuously burns out for no apparent reason. Depending on how long a light is on during the day, most incandescent light bulbs should have a lifespan of about 900 hours, which usually comes out to about 4 months. If you find that your light bulbs keep burning out in a matter of weeks, there might be a bigger problem at play than faulty bulbs. At Expert Electric, they have experience in solving all kinds of home electrical issues and no job is too small for their residential electrical services.

Reasons for Light Bulbs to Burn Out

There are a couple of factors that contribute towards light bulbs burning out too fast and there are many solutions that can help your light bulbs last longer. Some of the reasons that light bulbs burn out immediately include:

Light Bulbs Getting Too Hot

If a light fixture is not insulated properly or a light bulb is the wrong wattage for the fixture, the heat generated by the bulb can cause the filament to burn too hot, causing the bulb to burn out quickly. Make sure that the light bulbs being used match the recommended wattage for a light fixture. If a recessed fixture is going through bulbs quickly, it could be that the insulation in the ceiling is holding the heat against the light too well and the bulbs are overheating.

Vibrating Light Bulbs

If a light fixture is shaking or vibrating, it can shorten the lifespan of light bulb filaments. This is a common occurrence in ceiling fans, garage door openers, and basements. To correct this problem, use rough service or LED bulbs in these fixtures.

Poor Light Fixture Connection

If a light bulb is screwed into a fixture too tightly it can depress the metal connection tab at the bottom of the socket. This can cause a loose connection that will cause the bulb to flicker, which makes the light bulb burn out quickly. To fix this problem, cut the power to the light fixture and gently pull the tab forward a little bit so that it connects with the bulb. Poor connections can also be caused by a loose wire in the light fixture. If you are unsure about why light bulbs are flickering, call your licensed electrician for more information about how to proceed safely.

High Home Voltage

If the voltage in your home is too high, it can make light bulbs burn out all over the house. If you find that light bulbs are burning out at the same time or one after another, call a licensed electrician to have the problem solved.

To find out more about why your light bulbs keep burning out, or if you are interested in one of their residential electrical services or commercial electrical services, please contact Expert Electric at 604-681-8338.