Perhaps you just installed a new chandelier in your dining room, or simply need to change burned out bulbs in lighting fixtures around your home. Whatever your reason is, it is important to consider the following 7 tips for choosing the right light bulbs.
1. Wattage: Wattage refers to the amount of energy a light bulb can produce. Each lighting fixture in your home has a maximum amount of wattage that it can withstand. For most light fixtures the range of watts is between 40 and 120. When you start shopping around for light bulbs it is crucial to pick ones with the appropriate amount of wattage for the fixture. If the wattage is too high this will cause damage to the fixture as well as create a fire hazard.
2. Lumens: Lumens is the amount of a light that a bulb will produce. The higher the amount of lumens in a light bulb, the brighter the light is. When choosing the right light bulb for your fixture you will want to consider how bright the room needs to be. For large spaces you will want a bulb with a higher amount of lumens. For reading lamps, you can go with a lesser amount.
3. Shape: Generally, choosing the shape of your light bulb is at your discretion, but some fixtures require a specific shape in order to fit and operate properly. The most common shapes of light bulbs are the generic bulb shape, A-shaped, or spiral shaped.
4. Life Expectancy: Although the initial purchase price of your light bulbs is relatively small, it is important to consider the cost of your utilities for the life span of those bulbs. For fixtures that aren’t used as frequently incandescent bulbs are the cheapest choice, but also have the shortest life span. LED bulbs are more expensive initially, but have a life expectancy of up to 50,000 hours.
5. Light: When you go to buy new light bulbs, you want to purchase ones with the type of light appearance that is appropriate, and best illuminates each room of your house. There are several color options to consider for light bulbs from warm white, daylight, to cool white.
6. Mercury Content: While mercury content will not affect how you use the light bulb or the type of light it will produce, it is important to check the packaging of any light bulbs you are considering. Light bulbs that contain mercury cannot be thrown in the trash, so if you choose to buy them it is necessary to find a safe way of disposing them.
For more information on choosing the right light bulbs for every lighting fixture inside and outside of your home, contact us today!