Compact Fluorescent bulb disappointment...

[Charade]

I put several around the house. I have a flood light above my kitchen sink that I like to leave on all the time. I've already gone through 2 or 3 of the CFL types in just a few months. The package says they will last something like 8 years. But they qualify that by stating an average use of 3-4 hours per day. So even if I leave them on all the time, which is about 6-8 times as long as they claim for average use, they should still last a year or so each. Not so in my case. Maybe it's the brand. I forget what brand they were. They weren't GE.

And the other thing I didn't realize is these things contain mercury and must be recycled properly. You just can't toss them in the trash.

One last thing is the brightness and delay when they are turned on. It takes a few seconds for the light to actually turn on and about 30 seconds to a minute for it to come to full brightness. And even though they say they're as bright as conventional bulbs in wattage, I have to disagree. They seem dimmer to me so that's why I replaced 65 watt incandescent bulbs with 100 watt CFLs.

 

[eclectics]

Is yours upside down? I heard somewhere that if you do that, it diminishes their life. I have them all over the house and like them a lot. The oldest is around 3 years old and it's still going strong. I think mine are Philips but not sure.

 

[need_a_Disney_fix]

I have most of the bulbs replaced in our house with the new bulbs. So far so good. It does take some getting used to the brightness or lack thereof when you first turn them on. Time will tell...stay tuned...

 

[drgnfly30]

There was a segment on the Today show the other day that said not to get the off-brand ones.. they will not last as long or provide the same energy saving benefits as the brand name ones...

I switched over about a year ago & did have one bulb go about a month ago... it was one I got at Walmart...

 

[Fitswimmer]

All my LR lights have been replaced, and a couple of my ceiling fan bulbs. I'm only replacing as the old ones die, so it's a slow process.
I'm used to the "warm-up" now and other than that I really haven't had any problem with them.

 

[Traveliz]

I have to say I don't like them at all ... I have put them in areas now where I don't care - basement, storage room, spots where I am not often.

I don't know that I will be getting anymore.

Liz

 

[jonestavern]

I have found there is a vast difference in brands.
This last bunch we actually bought in bulk from the electric company. They have lasted sooo much longer than the ones I picked up at Sam's Club & some of the Home Depot brands~
We have several that we leave on from late in the day thru the night and those are well over a year old.
I don't find we have a 'warm up' period.

One of my favorite things is to use motion sensitvie switches in the rooms that you don't often visit. In our case the attic and the basement. This way no one forgets to turn off the light.

Jean

 

[mickeyfan2]

I put several around the house. I have a flood light above my kitchen sink that I like to leave on all the time. I've already gone through 2 or 3 of the CFL types in just a few months. The package says they will last something like 8 years. But they qualify that by stating an average use of 3-4 hours per day. So even if I leave them on all the time, which is about 6-8 times as long as they claim for average use, they should still last a year or so each. Not so in my case. Maybe it's the brand. I forget what brand they were. They weren't GE.

And the other thing I didn't realize is these things contain mercury and must be recycled properly. You just can't toss them in the trash.

One last thing is the brightness and delay when they are turned on. It takes a few seconds for the light to actually turn on and about 30 seconds to a minute for it to come to full brightness. And even though they say they're as bright as conventional bulbs in wattage, I have to disagree. They seem dimmer to me so that's why I replaced 65 watt incandescent bulbs with 100 watt CFLs.

I agree that they are not as bright. We got rid of them and went back to traditional bulbs.

 

[lindalinda]

I have a flourescent bulb in my laundry room that has been ON for 10 years!

 

[PhotobearSam]

I got some true white ones and they are really bright. I have them everywhere and it's so worth it to us. We have saved alot of $$$ and we like the light.

The only place we don't have them is where we have dimmers.

It's going to be law soon and we are already looking at making our motel and chalets fully CFL by this time next year.

So sorry you did not like them.

 

[Mickey527]

I haven't been able to use them yet because most of my lights are dimmable. I can't find the flourescent that are dimmable.
I know that they are made, but the stores I shop in don't have them. I went to the local United Illuminating store and they don't have them in their stock even though they advertise them.
I am hoping to buy them soon and hope they help, my electric bill went form an avg of $79 a month to $168 this month due to the increases our utility company just put into effect.

 

[NewJersey]

I have just started turning our house over, and it took a little while remembering the light takes a few seconds to get 'bright' but I love them. And i have noticed a slight decrease in our electricity bill.

 

[kennancat]

We replaced all the can lights in our kitchen with CFLs. The warm-up period is kind of annoying, but we have other lights in the kitchen too so it's not too bad. The biggest impact we've noticed was heat - the original cans just put out so much that we couldn't leave them on as much as we wanted. Definitely not a problem with the CFLs.

 

[Charade]

I have a flourescent bulb in my laundry room that has been ON for 10 years!

I have a flourescent bulb above my washer that's still working. Granted it's not on all the time but it's lasted quite a bit longer than the one above my sink.

 

[Charade]

Is yours upside down? I heard somewhere that if you do that, it diminishes their life. I have them all over the house and like them a lot. The oldest is around 3 years old and it's still going strong. I think mine are Philips but not sure.

It is upside down but aren't most indoor recessed flood lights that way? That's the only recessed light I have in the whole house.

If it's a heat build up issue, maybe I should check to see if there's adequate ventilation in the can.

 

[lindalinda]

I'm not an expert, but I think maybe you still have to have the appropriate wattage the fixture requires? If it says max wattage 60 I think you still need to get the equivalent wattage to that for it to work properly. ( I have had issues myself with using incorrect wattage)

 

[Chicago526]

I haven't had any problems, but I've only used the normal 60 watt florecent replacements so far. I think mine are GE, maybe the name brands are better.

I wonder if Consumer Reports has rated them yet?

 

[I'mNoPrince]

L.E.D. is the way to go

We are going to be replacing ours as they go out with them.

They did a thing on Mythbusters and I couldn't believe the difference.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

If it's a heat build up issue, maybe I should check to see if there's adequate ventilation in the can.

The can is one place you definitely want adequate ventilation.

 

[eclectics]

It is upside down but aren't most indoor recessed flood lights that way? That's the only recessed light I have in the whole house.

If it's a heat build up issue, maybe I should check to see if there's adequate ventilation in the can.

I just heard somewhere that these particular fluoro bulbs should not be placed upside down. I think the box on one of mine even said so. I'll check at Home Depot for you next time I'm there. Maybe the lighting manager knows.