How Long Do Modern Light Bulbs Last?

How long a light bulb lasts will depend on what kind of light bulb it is. With the many different types of light bulbs sold in [city], it’s no surprise that most consumers are left wondering just what kind of light bulb to buy.  After all, it’s a light bulb!  How complicated can it be?

But the truth is that light bulb technology has undergone a dramatic change in the last 10 years. Gone are the days of light bulbs lasting no more than a year, as is usually the case of incandescent light bulbs.

Today’s new generation of bulbs can last well beyond 20,000 hours.

If you’re planning to upgrade the light bulbs you’re presently using in your [city] home and want to know what bulbs last the longest, continue reading, since we’ll be taking a closer look at the life spans of the most common types of light bulbs you’ll stumble across.

Incandescent Light Bulbs

Incandescent light bulbs have been the gold standard in light bulb technology for most of the 20^th century. Made popular by Thomas Edison, the technology in the classic light bulb has remained relatively unchanged after more than 100 years. It works through a process called incandescence, which involves heating a metal filament (made of tungsten) hot enough to produce light.

While this process of generating light is certainly effective, it has some major drawbacks. First, the process of incandescence produces light as a byproduct of heat. Second, the high heat levels slowly kill the light bulb, thus giving it a lifespan of only around 2000 hours.

Halogen Lamps

Halogen lamps are basically improved incandescent bulbs. The process of incandescence is still there, but the glass bulbs are filled with halogen gas to counter the detrimental effects of heat and improve longevity. The halogen gas helps secure the tungsten wire to the filament, preventing it from detaching and burning out. This design helps extend the halogen lamp’s lifespan to 4000-8000 hours.

Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs)

For many years, compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) were the most practical alternative to inefficient incandescent light bulbs, offering better lifespan and more light for much less electricity. All fluorescent bulbs and tubes are engineered with an electric ballast surrounded by mercury vapor. The tube’s interior is coated with phosphorous, which, when charged by an electric current, work together with the mercury to produce light, in a process known as fluorescence.

Compact fluorescent lamps and tubes typically have a lifespan of up to 10,000 hours.

Light-emitting Diode Bulbs  (LED)

As far as lifespan is concerned, LED light bulbs are currently king of the hill, boasting both superb durability and incredible life spans. Featuring solid-state lighting technology, LEDs are much closer to computers than light bulb technology, and thus do not suffer from their problems, such as flickering, heat, and premature burnouts. Because of their low heat levels, LED light bulbs can last up to 25,000 hours.

Consider these factors when shopping for a light bulb in [city]. If you want to make the most out of your investment and save money on light bulb replacements, LEDs are obviously the superior choice.