A Solution for Those Trying out the Newer Type Light Bulbs
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
Midland, Michigan
February 17, 2017 9:36am CST
I just read a post by James Higgins in which he bought LED bulbs and responded with a suggestion. Then I read some of the other responses and saw other members that found they didn't last as long as expected. Rather than repeating my solution to everyone that responded to his post, I thought I'd just do one on this instead.
Several years ago I came up with a solution that works for me since it seemed like they weren't lasting as long as it said to me either. These were the Fluorescent bulbs. I have yet to invest in the LED types.
I keep the receipt stapled to the package, if buying more than one package, I would probably make copies of the receipt on my printer. Then jot down which room and which lamp or light fixture where each bulb is going. Also put the date of installation for each one as they will probably burn out at different rates.
Then when one quits working you can find the package and look at the purchase date to see how long it did last. If it's a lot sooner than you thought it would be you should be able to get a replacement from the manufacturer and then they'd know it's not living up to their expectations.
I found after the first few years of using these types of bulbs, and again I've not bought the LED's yet, that they did last longer eventually. In the beginning it seemed like they only lasted a few months.
10 people like this
11 responses
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Feb 17
I just stuff a paper in the pack with the date and room I replaced a bulb in. I haven't bought any LEDs yet either.
2 people like this
@celticeagle (189838)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Feb 17
@MarshaMusselman .......If you read back over my posts about my grandson and my daughter you will learn why. It's no fun living with one bi-polar individual and a person with ODD who is also going through teen years. It's a feel of wild excitement like "when is the next bomb going to off" type of a feeling.
I just make a note on a paper when, where, etc.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Feb 17
@celticeagle I saw your question on a different post about your new avatar and I do like it, once I figured out who you were.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Feb 17
I almost thought you were a newbie until I saw your lighter name. Why are you delirious all of a sudden? I hope things are going well for you this weekend.
You do basically what I do. The difficulty is when you buy a package with more than one bulb in it and don't use them all at the same time to keep them straight.
2 people like this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
19 Feb 17
Wow that's great, Valerie. Do you know whether you bought the same brand all the time or did any of the brands last the same amount of time? Are we talking about the LED or the fluorescent ones?
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@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
21 Feb 17
@MarshaMusselman I bought GE, it's the only kind I buy. They were the energy smart fluorescent bulbs.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
25 Feb 17
Depending on how far away you did move, I wouldn't think they'd break that easily unless you didn't have the packaging they came in any longer. But, if you'd already had them for five years it's probably best to start fresh since they may only last one to two years longer anyway. Plus, new owners may not like it if they moved in and none of the fixtures had light bulbs in them.
@LadyDuck (502316)
• Italy
18 Feb 17
@MarshaMusselman The fluorescent are still for sale for the moment, but I prefer the warmer light of the LED and the LED are colder and last longer. The incandescent are no more for sale from at least 5 years. I think that the fluorescent will be sold until the end of this year.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Feb 17
That's good to know Anna. So, they don't even sell the fluorescent ones anymore? Here they said they'd eliminate the normal bulbs we all grew up with some years back and people were buying them by the cases, but they weren't eliminated at that time after all. I still don't know whether they are completely gone or not since some of the fluorescent manufacturers began having them look like normal bulbs, you can't always tell other than maybe the price.
Alfredo says he only buys the originals, (Incandescent) but maybe he doesn't realize what he's buying. It looks like they are still available here, but I don't know whether online only or in regular stores too.
I think the LED are at least brighter than the fluorescent started out being.
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Feb 17
They are supposed to last longer and be less expensive over the long haul if you can get over the initial expense. I know that the fluorescent ones were a bit too dim in the beginning, but they figured that part out eventually. I don't notice the difference anymore but it did take a bit to get used to them. I've not purchased the LED's yet either and not planning on doing so anytime soon.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54715)
• United States
24 Feb 17
That's a really cool tip.....thanks
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
24 Feb 17
It sounds like certain brands of the fleuroscent ones last quite a few years. Once you've tried them, you may find you won't need to keep track of each one purchased. But, I may do it again when I buy the LED bulbs until I know they'll last as long too.
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@shaggin (74988)
• United States
12 Mar 17
I always chalk up how short ours last as being due to the old wiring in our house. The old bulbs that were clear and really cheap would blow almost as soon as I put them in which is why am switched to the flourescent ones. I planned to write with a marker on the plastic part of the bulb when I put it in to see if they were really lasting as long as they are supposed to be. The new LED bulbs are all they sell at the Walmart near us now and they are even more expensive then the flourescent were. Your idea is excellent and I am going to start doing this with the receipt.
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@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
17 Feb 17
That's a very good system for keeping track! I know that I sometimes think something has lasted a long time or not long enough and have to look at the receipt to confirm.
I really hate those bulbs with their harsh light. Have you ever read the instructions and cautions to take if one breaks? You practically have to have a HazMat team come clean up! I still have some "real" bulbs I use for reading and lighting my living room and bedroom. I've given in and switched the rest of the house.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44941)
• Preston, England
17 Feb 17
most of mine are ordinary energy saver - not had to change a bulb since moving in here in Preston so far - 7 months ago
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@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Feb 17
I think most of those are supposed to last five to seven years. Most of the bulbs we grew up with lasted a good part of the year if I remember correctly depending on how often we had them on of course. So, hopefully, yours will last two to five years at a minimum if not longer yet.
@garymarsh6 (24006)
• United Kingdom
18 Feb 17
What a good idea. I must admit I am not as organised as you. They are really quite expensive these new bulbs and take a while to light up a room!
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
18 Feb 17
Are you talking about the LED's or fluorescent? For us the fluorescent ones used to take longer to light up the room but they seem a lot better now than when they first came out. Anna says the Led's are great, I've not bought any yet to see if they light up quicker or not.
I'm also not all that organized. I've not figured out a good place to keep my packages for quick retrieval even though I do have all the info on them, or at least used to.
@PainsOnSlate (21845)
• Canada
19 Feb 17
We haven't tried the LED;s for lamps yet but we use the ones in the photo and they seem to live forever.
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