The Weekly Fix is a home maintenance column by Home Repair Resource Center, a Cleveland Heights nonprofit that helps homeowners buy, repair and retain their homes. Each week, the center offers a seasonal home maintenance tip. For more information on its services, call 216-381-6100.
CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- There are a number of reasons why light bulbs fail sooner than expected. Most of these reasons are related to heat – a bulb in a tightly enclosed fixture will burn out more quickly than one in an open fixture, where the heat can escape. Recessed lighting fixtures are often covered by insulation, which may block ventilation and cause heat to build up around the bulb, shortening its life. If the average life of your bulbs is clearly less than the life expectancy listed on the package, then you may have a heat problem.
Bulbs can also fail if the light fixture socket is corroded. Again, the problem is heat; when corrosion prevents an effective connection to the bulb base, the base heats up, leading to bulb failure. If the metal parts of the socket are not clean and shiny, replace the socket or, if the socket cannot be removed/replaced, the entire fixture.
You might try switching to a cooler bulb. A 13- to 20-watt compact fluorescent bulb generates a lot less heat than a 75-watt incandescent bulb does, and lasts a lot longer.
Vibration can shorten the life expectancy of a bulb. A filament that bounces around – in an out-of-balance bathroom or ceiling fan, in a fixture near a door that is frequently slammed, or in a room where children often jump around – will break more quickly than filaments not subject to that kind of stress. You can buy special shock-resistant bulbs (also called "rough service" bulbs) for this situation.
Flickering, caused by intermittent electrical contact, will also reduce how long a bulb lasts. The flickering can be caused by a bad light socket, or a poor electrical connection somewhere in the wires leading to the light (usually right at the fixture), or a bad switch. If you can't locate the cause of the flickering, and it affects all or many lights, you could have a bad neutral connection -- a dangerous situation. Another indication of a neutral problem is noticeable brightening or dimming of your lights as larger appliances -- such as washing machines or dishwashers -- cycle. (Minor changes in intensity are normal). If you suspect this problem, have an electrician check it out.
Lastly, though it's rare in the Heights area, you may have an over-voltage problem. Test the voltage with an inexpensive multimeter. If you find your voltage is 125V or higher, talk to the power company about it. Seven or eight extra volts on a 120V line will cut your bulb life in half. If you have a slight over-voltage, you can buy special 125V or 130V bulbs (sometimes sold as "long-life" bulbs), though they can be hard to find. Don't use them unless your voltage is high, however – they cost more per unit of light overall. With normal voltage, compact fluorescent bulbs are your best option to save costs.