When your incandescent bulbs start to burn out, you may consider replacing them with LED bulbs. These lights have a lifespan of about 20 years, making them a smart, economical choice. The bulbs themselves have made significant advances in recent years, and LEDs can be used for any room in your home or office. Before you run to the store and grab the first LED you see, there are five things to keep in mind.
1. Lumens Are Where It’s At
Forget about wattage. You aren’t buying an incandescent bulb. What you want to look for are lumens. If you look at wattage, you will be looking all day. LEDs and incandescents simply don’t compare in this category. Lumens and watts don’t exactly translate effectively, but in general, if you are looking for something similar to your standard 60W bulb, you will want to look for an LED with 800 lm.
2. Color
You can find LEDs in a variety of colors and spectrums. Chances are that you are looking for a similar color to what your incandescents provided. Look for warm white, bright white or soft white. Warm and soft white will throw a yellow hue, and bright white will give you something closer to daylight.
3. Cost
It won’t take you long to figure out that you are going to pay more for an LED than a traditional bulb. Eventually, the cost savings you realize will offset the cost of the LED that you choose as will the fact that your bulb probably won’t need to be replaced for a couple of decades. In fact, one LED bulb can save you at least $100 over its lifespan.
4. Dimmable
Not all LEDs are dimmable. If you plan on using your new bulb with a dimmer, make sure that it is labeled for such. While transitioning your home to dimmable LED lighting may seem like a daunting task, it can actually just take a weekend to install the new system.
5. Heat
It is a misconception that LEDs don’t produce heat. They do, it is just in a different way. LEDs should not be used in enclosed fixtures if you expect them to live their entire lives bright and useful. If you will be putting the LED in an enclosed fixture, look for one made for recessed fixtures.
If you have any more questions about LEDs, please take a look at our website. We have the information you are looking for when it comes to this energy-efficient type of lighting. If you have questions, please reach out to us. We would be happy to provide you with the information that you are looking for.