Exploding Light Bulbs
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
June 6, 2011 7:32pm CST
All I wanted to do is go for a wee. Upon entering the bathroom I had to pull the rope-cord thingy in order to switch both the light and the extractor fan on at the same time.
Oh, the extractor fan worked fine. Not so the light.
It exploded, sending sparks flying all over the bathroom.
"Bloody house!" I exclaimed.
"JOHN! NONE OF THE LIGHTS WORK!"
He came out of the bedroom to investigate (half asleep)..bearing in mind it was about 1am.
He then had to go downstairs and mess about with the trip box or whatever it's called. It's an added safety feature which means, when one bulb blows the other lights go off temporarily until it's all reset.
It's going to be a right carry on for John to change the bulb in the bathroom light fitting as it's enclosed in the fitting itself, therefore he will have to take it apart to put the bulb in.
Glad I don't have to do it and John won't do it either until he gets back home from work. I WOULD do it but we have high ceilings and messing about with the step ladder isn't good for someone as accident-prone as I am.
John said it's the first time that bulb in the bathroom has blown "for ages!"
Well, that's reassuring!
Do you have problems with light bulbs blowing out on a regular basis? Granted, a curly bulb probably wouldn't blow out like that BUT one wouldn't fit in the bathroom light fitting. I know that for a fact. We have to use the traditional filament bulb..but at least they're more environmentally friendly now. In fact, since John switched from the really dear bulbs to the cheapo ones the lights downstairs have behaved themselves.
Thank God he's got a spare one!
He then had to go downstairs and mess about with the trip box or whatever it's called. It's an added safety feature which means, when one bulb blows the other lights go off temporarily until it's all reset.
It's going to be a right carry on for John to change the bulb in the bathroom light fitting as it's enclosed in the fitting itself, therefore he will have to take it apart to put the bulb in.
Glad I don't have to do it and John won't do it either until he gets back home from work. I WOULD do it but we have high ceilings and messing about with the step ladder isn't good for someone as accident-prone as I am.
John said it's the first time that bulb in the bathroom has blown "for ages!"
Well, that's reassuring!
Do you have problems with light bulbs blowing out on a regular basis? Granted, a curly bulb probably wouldn't blow out like that BUT one wouldn't fit in the bathroom light fitting. I know that for a fact. We have to use the traditional filament bulb..but at least they're more environmentally friendly now. In fact, since John switched from the really dear bulbs to the cheapo ones the lights downstairs have behaved themselves.
Thank God he's got a spare one!2 people like this
10 responses
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
7 Jun 11
Oh you're one of the gang now. If things can go wrong, they do. If lights have to go off or wires to catch on fire...it happens to ME too. Ive never had a light bulb blow up before though (knock on wood and my head and the floor just to make sure lol) But then again, anything can happen. I thought you might have been using one of those new DEVILISH twisted light bulbs....twisted is right when you refer to those new fango dango bulbs. They are evil. You have to sit at about 6 feet from them and you cant throw them away in recycling or garbabe.......noooo you have to bring them back to the city or special stores because they're full of mercury!!
Dont you like how they mess up good things!!
You're right to let him fix it. First of all, the bulb exploded so it means that you could very well cut yourself trying to unscrew it.....or ......God forbid.....get zapped!!!!!!!
Hope you can get some light in your bathroom soon!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Jun 11
LOL!
John has now fixed the light (he even cleaned the glass fitting the bulb is hidden in) but he told me he was losing the will to live in B&Q as he said they had every bulb you could think of, apart from the one he wanted!
Anyway, he picked one eventually and it's actually better than the previous one that blew.
Work that one out!
John has now fixed the light (he even cleaned the glass fitting the bulb is hidden in) but he told me he was losing the will to live in B&Q as he said they had every bulb you could think of, apart from the one he wanted!
Anyway, he picked one eventually and it's actually better than the previous one that blew.
Work that one out!1 person likes this
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
9 Jun 11
Good for you. Oh I know about so many different kind of light bulbs.....can drive one mad at times lol.
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
7 Jun 11
Hiya Janey,
Light Bulbs I am fed up of buying them. In England before I can remember a light Bulb lasting for yonks too but not here they blow by themselves.
In fact we had a "curly" one that blew into bits as well and we stick to the other more normal ones for now.
Who knows what they will try to sell us next?
I said to the last Electrician that was here don´t go to work in England as the Wiring and light bulbs last too long he thought I was kidding I think well I was´nt was I?
I am starting to prefer those lamps that are within normal reach after all I am not Tarzan or Jane and I don´t take those kind of chances as the light fixtures here are mostly extremely poor and you have trouble fitting the light back in after you have taken one out. Seems they have thought of everything if the Bulb goes you might even have to replace the fitting too.xxx
@lovinangelsinstead21 (36850)
• Pamplona, Spain
8 Jun 11
Hiya Janey,
Don´t think I stand a chance of getting the money back not likely (grin). How would you get it out of their Pockets.
Seems it´s all well thought of. There are at least three light fittings in this place for want of a better word and we have problems everytime we have to change the light bulb and they are high up as well so the owner can fix them and I am not if I can help it.
Nothing is meant to last I agree.
Was looking at the Baby Clothes yesterday and they seem to have improved in quality and the price as well of course. I say Baby Clothes as you would not find Clothes say for you and me in the same place.
xxx@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Jun 11
I sympathise with you, I really do! Nothing lasts anymore does it my friend and light bulbs, well..they're pathetic if truth be known.
Bills are set to go up again in August.
We should be reimbursed for all the bulbs we blow in a year lol.
1 person likes this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
7 Jun 11
As much as I hate them, I have decided to buy and use the 'energy smart' light bulbs. So whenever one blows, I now replace a 'curly' one. These things are guaranteed to last 5 years.....says so right on the package. BUT that guarantee is based on "rated life at 4 hours consumer use per day at 120V." Now who uses a light bulb just 4 hours a day? I keep my living room light on at most all times. That bulb is still good and I put it in back in September.
GE even guarantees that if my bulbs don't last 5 years that they will replace them. All I have to do is return to them the UPC and register receipt. Think I'll still have a receipt in five years or even in one year if it goes out this September or before?
The fixture in the kitchen is in the center of the ceiling. I have to use one of those step-stool thingies. So I replaced two bulbs in there a couple of weeks ago. I'm going to try to just use them 4 hours a day and keep track of whether they last 5 years or not. Of course, I may not last the full 5 years myself. Should I put a note on a calendar for the people who use the bulbs next after me if I kick the bucket?
Anyway, if they truly last for the five years then my $10 ± per package of bulbs may not be such an unwise investment. You think?
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Jun 11
I bet you're losing the will to live just thinking about it...I know I am lol.
@changjiangzhibin89 (16518)
• China
7 Jun 11
It was a near thing.It has never happened to me before.They say that incandescent lamp is liable to be exploding.I don't know what type of light bulb you used.I guess no matter what kind of light bulb it is,now that It is exploding,It more often than not has air leaked in.When you switch it on,air inside light bulb is heated,It expands.It will be exploding once the pressure in the light bulb is more than one atmospheric pressure.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Jun 11
It is an incandescent bulb, you're right. John showed it to me earlier and it did indeed "explode" as I thought. He's cleaned the light fitting itself and put a new bulb in and it's lovely!
1 person likes this
@mrgpk63 (444)
• United States
7 Jun 11
Sparks should not Fly when the Light Bulb Burns Out. It has a Metal Filament that Burns Out after Time. Unless You just are Adding some Dramatics for Effects. They can Last for Months or Years Based Upon the Quality and Amount of Usage. If it don't Last Check the Wattage Rating of the Light Fixture. You may have been Using a to High of a Wattage Bulb. Maybe Change the Fixture if it is Very Old and can be Unsafe to. Try a Florescent Energy Save Bulb.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Jun 11
This particular bulb has lasted at least 5 years at a guess, which is good for this house, believe me.
It wasn't a very bright bulb and the new one is only 40 watts but seems brighter to me but there again John has cleaned the light fitting so that might have something to do with it.
Looks good though.
@scarlet_woman (23465)
• United States
22 Aug 11
sounds like something needs rewired if it exploded.that's not right at all.
we haven't had any explode since dad tried to wire an overhead light.
after about the 3rd shatter of 4 bulbs,we finally got him to call a real electrician.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Jun 11
We only have one curly light bulb and it's in the front bedroom. The bulb in the bathroom was a normal filament bulb..but the smaller variety.
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
7 Jun 11
Wow how scary and glad you were not hurt in the process. I have not had blow outs like this but have had lights blow out where they just sort of flicker and off it goes. I hope he fixes it soon, and wondering if it was the bulb and or some sort of shortage, but then I am not an electrician.
By the way did you get a chance to wee? lol
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Jun 11
Yes, I got to wee after John had messed about with the box under the stairs, so I could have the light on on the landing, therefore illuminating..er, what I was doing in the bathroom.
Deary me, there seems to be dangers here, there and everywhere whenever I want to wee just lately!
Deary me, there seems to be dangers here, there and everywhere whenever I want to wee just lately!
@moneymakerteen (87)
• United States
7 Jun 11
It is not just the light bulb in my house, it's the whole bathroom. About once a week something spooky happens in my bathroom like the faucet turning on or the the toilet flushing...like right now! Or whenever the I take a hour long bath the light bulb blows out. You get used to it after a while, well that is if your not scared of spirits!!!!
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
7 Jun 11
Wow, it sounds like you may have a spook in your house!
