Are your old incandescents burning out one after another? Then it might be time to consider a more advanced technology such as the LED. LEDs are the future of the lighting industry as they can have a lifespan of up to twenty-five years and they are energy-efficient.
However, there are many varieties of the LED lights and choosing one depends on few factors. Here’s what you need to know before heading to the store.
Lumens replace watts
When shopping for incandescent bulbs, people used to look at the watts to determine how bright the lamp is. However, the brightness of the LEDs is determined by lumens as they draw far less energy than traditional bulbs.
To make a comparison, 60W incandescent bulb is going to be around 8-10 watts for a LED Bulb. That’s where lumens come to the rescue.
A lumen (lm) is a measurement of brightness for a LED light bulb, and it is what you should be looking at when purchasing lights.
Choosing the right color LED
Incandescents provide a warm yellow color that’s perfect for homes, whereas LEDs come in a variety of colors - from purple to red. Moreover, there are even different types of white and yellow.
If you are looking for a color that is suitable for your home, then you might want to consider “warm white,” “soft white” or “bright white.”
The first two will provide a yellow-like color that’s similar to incandescents, while the “bright white” color is close to the one we see in retail stores and it resembles the daylight.
Look at the kelvins of the light bulb when buying one. The lower the number is, the warmer the light will be. If you are looking for an incandescent color, then you will need something between 2,500-3,500 kelvins.
LEDs are more expensive
Replacing the old lights with LED bulbs should be considered as a long-term investment. They are much more expensive than traditional ones, but their prices have decreased due to the large competition in the industry.
Even though that you have to pay more upfront, the LED bulb will pay off throughout the years as they have a longer lifespan and consume much less energy than others.
Some fixtures aren’t compatible with LEDs
You must ensure that the place you want to put the LED bulb is suitable or else it might kill it faster. Many people believe that LEDs don’t produce heat, but they do. However, it is pulled away from the bulb into the air and this way the bulb stays cool, preserving its life expectancy.
Nevertheless, if the light bulb is enclosed, the heat won’t be able to escape, which would result in a shorter lifespan. However, there are LED bulbs that are especially approved for enclosed spaces.