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How to make LED bulbs last longer

by Josh Kirschner on August 10, 2022

LED bulbs are a far more cost-efficient, environmentally-friendly option than traditional incandescent bulbs. With a life expectancy of 20 years or more (25x longer than incandescent), the energy savings from LED bulbs will more than make up for the higher initial purchase price. However, if your LED bulbs burn out quickly, those cost savings are lost.

To understand why people may experience premature LED failure and how to make our LED bulbs last longer, I spoke with Martin Cross, Managing Director at INUI, a UK company specializing in the design, research and manufacture of LED lighting.

According to Cross, there are three critical components of an LED bulb: the LED chip, the LED driver (AC to DC converter) and the heat-sink. When manufacturers skimp on costs for any (or all) of these pieces, it can lead to early failure of the bulb. Cheap LED chips are more susceptible to overheating, which can “greatly shorten the life of the chip." The LED driver must supply a very stable current, or it can cause the LED chip to burn out; Cross says that low-cost power supplies may have very few safety features within the electronic circuitry designed to supply stable voltage and current to the LED chip. And if a company uses cheap, thin metal that has poor heat conducting qualities for its heat-sink, it won’t do its job of keeping the chip cool.

So, if you want to make your LED bulbs last longer, here are three steps you can take to get the most out of your investment:

  1. Avoid cheap, no-name LED bulbs. Low cost may indicate that the manufacturer cut corners on components, making the bulb less able to withstand heat or current issues. If you’re not familiar with LED brands, check reviews before you buy and make sure those ratings aren't inflated by fake reviews.
  2. Don’t use LED bulbs in enclosed fixtures or recessed cans. When LED bulbs are used in enclosed fixtures and recessed can, excess heat can build up, unless the bulb is specifically rated for that purpose. You can find enclosed fixture rated bulbs on Amazon.
  3. Use dimmable LED bulbs and dimmers designed for LED bulbs. Dimmers that aren’t designed for LED bulbs may not supply the correct current, which can cause flickering, damage the circuitry and shorten the life of your bulbs. Always use a dimmer that is made for LEDs. I experienced this exact issue in our bathrooms when we switched to LED bulbs. Our dimmers were older Lutron models that were not rated for LED bulbs and we had frequent failures. I upgraded to the newer model of the Lutron occupancy sensor dimmer that is rated for LEDs (a great option if your kids always leave the lights on, BTW) and have had no issues since. Similarly, if you are using a LED-compatible dimmer, always use LED bulbs that indicate “dimmable” in the description to avoid circuitry damage.

Updated on 8/10/2022

[Image credit: Hand changing LED light bulb via BigStock Photo]

Josh Kirschner is the co-founder of Techlicious and has been covering consumer tech for more than a decade. Before founding Techlicious, he was the Chief Marketing Officer for Inform Technologies, a start-up provider of semantic technology to media companies. Prior to Inform, Josh was a SVP and Managing Director in the financial services industry. Josh started his first company while still in college, a consumer electronics retailer focused on students.


Topics

Tips & How-Tos, Health and Home, Home Improvement, Lighting, Money Savers


Discussion loading

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From Loren Lewis on August 10, 2022 :: 4:07 pm


Now I know why the LEDs in my drop ceiling recessed fixtures have been failing.

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From JT on August 10, 2022 :: 8:03 pm


So let me get this straight, the LED cost more because it will supposedly last 20 years (have yet to have a LED or compact fluorescent last 5 years).  But then we need a new $100 fixture and $25 switch that are LED compatible.  That LED bulb would need to last 150+ years to offset the cost of the old $1.25 bulb that usually lasted 3-5 years.

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From Randy Grein on August 11, 2022 :: 10:14 pm


JT, the only thing you missed was the cost of electricity, which if far more than the cost of either bulb. If you’re cash strapped (like me) use traditional switches.

I have strings of LED Christmas lights that have been in continuous operation for about 20 years. My house has has been fully LED for about 7 years (started over 12 years ago. In that time I have had 3 failures. It sounds like you have a problem, and discussion with a qualified electician may turn it up. The savings are substantial.

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From Sharon Murphy on December 28, 2023 :: 3:18 pm


20 years?  I am lucky to have any LED bulb last over 2 years.  I write the date on each bulb as I replace.  I have used every brand and type and this is in three different houses so it isn’t the wiring.

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From Harold on January 02, 2024 :: 11:30 am


It’s not the wiring, it’s the LED bulbs.  It’s been my experience compact fluorescents and incandescents will typically have a longer lifespan than LED.  LED bulbs also have annoying failure modes such as flickering, flashing, and going dim. I’d rather pay a little more for electricity and have a better quality light source than LEDs.

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