curly flourescent light bulb problem

**canadian gardener** · 10-15-2005, 12:41 PM

Have any of you noticed this problem?

About 3 years ago now, I embarked on a project to reduce our electric costs, so I bought a bunch of the curly bulb replacements, 13 and 16 watt ones to replace all the 40, 60 and 100 watt bulbs (I don't do wattage over that)

the costs dropped for our electricity. Because of rebates etc, the cost of the bulbs was covered in the first year.

However the bulbs were supposed to last a lot longer.

They don't. At least SOME don't. Some have, and are the originals that I bought, but some have had to be replaced, and the replacements sometimes are ok, sometimes they burn out in months.

I TOTALLY HATE throwing these dead bulbs out, but it's the only option available to me. I don't think the components are healthy in the land fill but on the other hand using more electricity is also unhealthy for teh environment.

Have any of you had this problem with the new curly bulbs or is it just me?

**QuilterMom** · 10-15-2005, 01:07 PM

We just started using them and one of the bulbs didn't even fully light up as brightly as it should have from the start. I forget what brand we bought (got them at Sam's Club), but the packaging guarantees them to last for I believe 5 years. If not, you contact the manufacturer (and the package says to keep the UPC bar code from the package and your original store receipt).

Do you have dimmer switches by chance? We did and were told that they would greatly reduce the life of the bulbs or potentially cause them to explode. We did away with the dimmers.

I was also not pleased to find that they contain mercury so I understand about you not liking throwing them in the landfill. I think the electric savings and environmental impact of that savings outweighs the other for me personally though (I'm still not happy about the mercury by any means though).

**canadian gardener** · 10-15-2005, 02:29 PM

Ours didn't come with a guarantee, the earlier models had them, but not the ones currently sold at Costco (our sams, where I got most of ours) or the major hardware and grocery chains here in western Canada where I live.

ROFL THAT should have been a clue for me doncha think???hehehehehehh

I did notice that one or two weren't as bright from the start, and those seemed to burn out quickly. The ones that are on the way to burnout start by going dimmer.

Nope, I don't do dimmer switches, that's a no no with those as is putting them in damp or cold locations such as bathrooms (mine do fine in there btw) or outdoors (I haven't).

glad I'm not alone in my concerns.

**forestdale** · 10-15-2005, 02:34 PM

We've been using these bulbs for about 2 years and have them in most of our light fittings - the fixed ones as well as lamps. We haven't had any problems.

**Kimberlina** · 10-15-2005, 05:29 PM

I have had problems- I bought 4 and 2 of them only worked for a few days. They fo have a guarantee, though, so I will be taking them back.

I recently found Sylvania 40w compact fluorescent, not the twist ones, but just u-shaped glass, at my dollar store. I bought a lot. They are like the older ones in that they take a second to come all the way on, but so far they are outperforming the ones I spent a lot more money on.

**nodmicks** · 10-17-2005, 12:19 PM

We have had th same problem!

**homesteadmamma** · 10-17-2005, 12:26 PM

We were WARNED if you have them under any types of globes, they will not last the full 5 or 6 years. I have not put them under lamps for that very reason and we do not have any globes covering ours.

We just installed ours and the owner of the store who we purchased them from gave us the warning.

We also found they don't throw quite as much light as our other light bulbs did. We are finally getting use to that.

**canadian gardener** · 10-17-2005, 12:35 PM

I keep most of mine globeless and nekkid.

My decor minded friend hates looking at them marching down the hallway ceiling as they spiral out of their sockets.

She says they are NOT modern art!

I just laugh and keep paying lower electric bills, but wonder about their life, and landfills and which is better in the long run for the environment. Less electricity used, or less weird stuff in the landfill.

I figure if we ever had to sell the house, I'd pop regular bulbs in and put the covers back on, but like you I find they are a bit darker by themselves, and I want all the light I can get.

I kind of like how they look in my bathroom light bar fixture.

They lend a much pinkier glow, or a reddish look to my skin, which depending on whether I'm looking pale and uninteresting or the rashy bits are red, can be a good thing or not.

**pkellyc** · 10-17-2005, 12:41 PM

We use them. I have been buying them at our local home depot. I have bought them at the dollar store and they seem to be inferior and do not last at all. I guess it's a case of you get what pay for. I like them a lot, the better bulbs last longer and we don't have to change them so often. (I don' t know about 5 years I doubt it) I have put them in the dimmers and they do pop so like everyone else I wouldn't recommed it.
We bring them to our local recycle/transfer station (aka the town dump) and put them in a seperate recycle bin. What they do with them after that I am not sure.