CFL's, my new source of aggravation

[Beeman]

In my feeble attempt to save money and lower my electrical useage I replaced all of our incandescent lightbulbs with CFL's. Of course due to different fixtures and limited selection at stores I now own 3 different brands of bulbs from 3 different stores. Now my time is spent figuring out where I bought the bulb and what the warranty is and how to get it replaced as they burn out. It doesn't seem to matter which brand as I have GE's, Sylvania and Bright Effects that have burned out in about a year. The funny thing is the cheaper bulbs from Lowes (bright effects) have an 800 number you call and they just send you a replacement.

Ever notice in todays world you buy your sources of aggravation?

[Tricky Grama]

Don't have the light bulb aggravation-yet. Mine now is the lawn sprinkler. There's more than 1/2 dozen laying around & not one will go back & forth like they're supposed to.

Patty

[Aeirios]

Originally Posted by Tricky Grama

Don't have the light bulb aggravation-yet. Mine now is the lawn sprinkler. There's more than 1/2 dozen laying around & not one will go back & forth like they're supposed to.

Uhgg yeah I bet I have had to switch out a dozen sprinklers this year because of that.

[Ramblin Wreck]

I've had good luck with the CFL bulbs so far, losing only one (that I can remember) in about three years. Do you think you might be getting electrical surges from your power provider that could be shortening their life span?

[Cindy in NY]

Beeman - my DH works for GE and will not buy any of their lightbulbs! Good to know about the Lowes bulbs! We have had a problem with a couple of bulbs burning out early. It is the same fixture though so I think it's the fixture and not the bulb.

Our biggest aggravation was when DH changed out the tubes over the washer with CFL bulbs. I drape a sheet over the washer to take my ebay pictures. When he changed the bulbs, my pictures were coming out yellow and I couldn't adjust the color. We found that the daylight or the bright white bulbs didn't give everything a yellow cast.

[WisJim]

I've been using CFLs for almost 18 years, and have had few failures. I got a bunch at Home Depot, some at Menardsw, but most at the local Fleet Farm. Some lasted over 7 years of regular use (main kitchen light and outside porch lite), and only a couple others only a year or 2. An electrician friend says that the main cause of failure he has found is due to them not being screwed into the socket tighlty enough--perhaps they loosen a bit over time, and it adversely affects them more than "regular" bulbs.

I also use some LEDs, but the light color is bluish white and not everyone likes it. Good for a night light or task lighting sometimes, though.

[emulkahi1]

Do you have any of your CFL's on dimmer switches, Beeman? We had a few of those and learned that it quickly burns them out. I guess the rheostat or something isn't good for their longevity (regurgitating info from DH there, so I mighta gotten it slightly wrong....something along those lines though ).

Just thought I'd mention it in case it might apply....

Erin

[Windy in Kansas]

I started using compact fluorescent bulbs so long ago (years) that I don't know how long ago it was that I bought my first. During the time that I have been using them I have replaced only one. It was in service in my outdoor dusk to dawn yard light which means it burned many hours. Before the yard light switch I replaced an incandescent bulb about every six months, even the long life ones.

I am strongly of the opinion that compact fluorescent bulbs SHOULD NOT be used throughout a house. They should be used in fixtures where the light is turned on and left on for extended periods of time. The on and off cycling is hard on incandescent bulbs but much harder on compact fluorescent bulbs. The countries and states mandating the phase out of incandescent bulbs are doing a disservice to their citizens because of this.

The CF bulbs I have in use are of different brands and sources including some I purchased over Ebay. Once I received them I could tell they were an electric company give away that the resident didn't wish to use. Works for me as they were my cheapest ones even with postage.

[michiganfarmer]

Turn stuff off. We reduced our bill from $100 per month down to $50

[brosil]

Why buy CFLs now with the surge in LED developement? In a couple of years, you should have long lasting LED units that will use a fraction of the electricity and won't be toxic to dispose of. I believe the present push to CFLs is just an ad campaign to let the manufacturers pay off their investments before the LEDs wipe out their market.

[Silvercreek Farmer]

I have only had 3 die in the past 5 years of use in everything. The first I put in a 3 way lamp, (a no no apparently!), I had one where the ballast over heated and cooked the plastic a bit, called the 1-800 number on the bulb and they sent me a new one, even though the bulb was 3 years old (but used infrequently) and the one that goes in the living room lamp, which runs all evening every evening. (They probably would have sent me a replacement if I had asked.) That being said, I am still using the ones that someone installed in my college appartment over five years ago (I took them with me when I left!)

If you recycle them there is no concern about mercury, if you don't you have still released less mercury than using an incandecent. (via the difference in energy consumption). And despite what you may here there is little danger from a broken bulb aside from the glass! Just pick up everything you can see and put it in the ouside trash, then vacuum well. (if you are really paranoid you can throw away the vacuum bag) Yes they take a moment to warm up, and sometimes the light color is a little off, and some folks have problems with flickering, and yes some are better quality than others, and yes they are working on LED's which may be better BUT, for the moment CFL's are one of the best things going. We didn't quit using computers the first time one locked up, and we shouldn't quit using CFL's because of a few glitches either. The only thing I would still use an incandecent for would be a cheap heating element, were it would do what incadecents do best, make HEAT.

[Beeman]

Bulbs are in standard type fixtures with no dimmers at all. I don't have any lights that stay on, all are turned off when there is no need.

I'm of the thinking that the ones bought 5 years ago were probably a little better than what we're getting now like everything else. Besides I'm sure they're treated with the greatest of care in shipping and stocking at the big box stores.

I'm starting to think that I cannot function in a world where the start button shuts things off!

I like the post about waiting for LED lights, maybe if I keep waiting I won't need lights at all. What will be after the LED'S? I liked the world when it turned at 33 1/3.

[Wayne02]

I'm done with the CFL's as well. Over promise, and under deliver. The best thing is you are not supposed to throw them away and most all the recycle places won't take them because of the evil mercury or whatever the evil thing of the month is this month.