The Green Living Guy

Well hello LED bulb problem. For LED lighting has been steadily gaining popularity due to its energy efficiency benefits and long life.  All both of which result in cost savings and cut environmental impact. Although LEDs are durable, they can have certain problems. That’s especially if they’re not correctly installed or maintenance is lacking. Taking measures to prevent these household electric troubles can help you to maximize your energy savings.

LED bulb
LED light bulb. Photo courtesy of Unsplash/Federico Bottos

Buying High-Quality Bulbs

Perhaps one of the most effective ways to prevent LED problems is to make sure from the start that you’re buying high-quality LEDs. Buying from reputable brands and checking reviews of products before you buy them can help. You should make sure you read the package carefully to ensure you’re purchasing the right type of bulb for your needs. Reading the instructions that come with your LED product can help you make sure you install it correctly.

The Importance of Regular Maintenance

Some people think of LEDs as maintenance-free. While the technology is quite durable, performing regular inspections and maintenance on your LED equipment can help you to take full advantage of the energy efficiency benefits of LEDs and prevent household electric troubles. You may help from hiring a certified electrician who has experience with LED bulb problems to do these inspections and maintenance tasks.

Consider implementing these maintenance rules on a regular schedule:

Clean fixtures, luminaries and components to get rid of dust and dirt

Measure light output using a light meter

Common LED Problems and Solutions

LED bulbs are typically reliable, but they can experience certain problems. In case you run into any of these issues, try using these tips to solve them.

One of the biggest draws of LED lighting products is their long life. Some can last as long as 50,000 hours, about 50 times longer than a standard incandescent bulb. There are, though, certain conditions that can cause them to fail earlier than expected.

One reason this happens is putting LED bulbs into fittings that still have some older non-LED bulbs in them. LEDs only produce a small of waste heat, which they can dissipate. Older bulbs give much more heat. The heat that these older bulbs give off can damage LEDs if they’re nearby. To prevent this problem, replace all bulbs in a fixture at once.

A lack of regular cleaning can also lead to early failure, since the presence of dirt and dust can get in the way of the system used to dissipate heat.

Flickering and Buzzing

Some people also run into the issue of flickering or buzzing LED bulbs. One of several things can cause this.

Also, LEDs that are connected to a dimming switch may flicker or buzz if that dimmer isn’t designed for LEDs. Dimmers that were made for standard bulbs use wattages that are too high for LEDs and, so, cause them to flicker or buzz.

Having a high-powered device on the same circuit as your LED can also cause voltages issues that lead to flickering and buzzing. Turning on these items can cause a voltage surge that interferes with the bulb. You can fix this problem by moving either the bulb or appliance to a different circuit if possible. You may also want to have an electrician take a look at your circuits.

Another issue for which you should call an electrician is a loose connection. When the connection to your bulb is unstable, it may cause it to flicker or buzz.

Continuous Glowing

Sometimes, an LED will glow even when you turn the switch off. This could either be caused by a problem with the bulb or the electrical circuit. Some switches allow small amounts of electricity through even when turned off. This would not have been noticeable with a standard bulb because there wasn’t enough power to produce any light. LEDs need much less power and can generate some light even with this small amount of electricity. If the problem is the bulb, you should try switching to a higher quality or newer bulb. If the problem is the circuit, call an electrician. You can fix these problems, though, by after the steps in this article. Once you do, you’ll be able to fully enjoy the benefits of using LED lighting.

Bio: Emily Folk is a freelance writer and blogger from Lancaster, PA. She covers topics in conservation, sustainability and renewable energy. To see her latest posts, check out her blog Conservation Folks Twitter

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