How long do lightbulbs last in your house

[SaltiresayingSlainteMhath]

We are changing bulbs at least once a month in the whole house - we used to use energy saving ones but it is costing us a fortune. they are regualrly blowing. Is this normal?

[nannyL]

i moved in 18 months ago

changed every single bulb for a new energy one the day i moved in

NONE at all have gone since

i thought they were supposed to last 6 years?

[sophy]

Something not right. Energy saving bulbs should last for ages. Ask an electrician?

[whomovedmychocolate]

I have a major static problem and the lightbulbs always go when I turn them on. This could be your problem esp. if you have metal switchplates. FYI I blow up halogen, low energy, high energy etc - makes no bloody difference.

If your lights are over 15 years old or your electrical wiring over 40 years old though, you may be getting surges. An electrician can test the peak flow.

[LIZS]

Depends whereabouts they are. The spots in the kitchen go at least once a month, tripping out downstairs. Others have gone more gradually (we've been here 10 months ) and been replaced with energy saving ones, ok so far.

[McDreamy]

We are having the same problem. Not sure what is causing it but I wonder if it because we have to many bulbs. We bought the show home and they had put multi bulbed light fittings in every room plus spots in the kitchen and I just wonder if it's to much. I'm coming home to the UK in a week and I am going to get an electrician in to have a look. I'll let you know what he says!!!

[CharlieAndLolasMummy]

no, if you have energy saving ones they should be lasting YEARS not months.

We put energy saving ones in when we moved here 5 years ago. Have not changed any since, except in the kitchen, where it kept blowing, and where it turned out that there was a short circuit.

Would really consider getting an electrician in on this, it does sound like there is a problem.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Lizs - spots in kitchens are notoriously difficult to wire correctly. If the previous owner has put them in themselves they have probably just run off the main spur and not done it properly - isolating the supply. Very dodgy. We replaced all ours and discovered they were actually powered via the power socket in the cupboard (this is not good btw).

[CharlieAndLolasMummy]

am interested in stuff in kitchen

we got a nice man who was very cheap and had come knocking door to door to take a look. He said "oh no, its an asbestos ceiling, you can't touch that, must be a short circuit.". So we just don't use it.

Is this perhaps not the wisest of moves? Shall I get someone competant out?

[whomovedmychocolate]

CharlieandLolasmummy - did he say this while stroking his chin by chance?

Asbestos ceiling - do you live in a 1960s garage?

What a twonk. Besides lighting circuits run through conduits in false ceilings (or they should) and have protected junction boxes.

I hope his spurs (from his cowboy boots) didn't scratch the paintwork on the way out

[twinsetandpearls]

We have just bee moaning about the same thing. Our bulbs in certain rooms are going all the time, one bulb in our front room just laster half an hour.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Twinsetandpearls - if it is always the same light fitting, it may be burning out. Does it crackle? I can hear one of mine crackle before it blows. It's knackered and I'm going to get a new one tomorrow if I get chance.

[nanninurse]

My dp , electrician says- two options

1. worn out lampholders, try replacing a few lampholders (arcing can occur on pins against bulbs on old lampholders) and check terminations are secure when replacing
   
2. cheap light bulbs!
   
   if the wiring is faulty/shorting it will blow a fuse/trip the circuit breaker in the consumer unit.
   
   Hope this helps..

[LIZS]

hmm , house isn't that old (1994 ish) and spots are original.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Could be too much load on the circuit then. We switched to LED lights and never looked back, you need tons of them and they are expensive but they never blow and they look really cool.

[twinsetandpearls]

doesn't crackle but they do fuse the circuit when they blow. They are always the same lights and thinking about it they are all lights which are later additions to the house, so faulty wiring may be an issue. God we are putting the house on the market in a few months, is this something that will be picked up when we need to do one of those homeseller packs.

[CharlieAndLolasMummy]

lol, he did suck his teeth a bit. He didn't have many teeth, but those he had were definately being sucked...

I live in a 1900 house, come to think of it, asbestos wasn't really around then, was it?

Am going to get someone out with an actual phone number, I think.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Umm no I don't think so CharlieandLolasMummy

You want a REGISTERED electrician too so they can file with the council what they have done - legal requirement these days.

Door to door people should be given to the cat for breakfast I say!