My dear friend and (elementary/high school) classmate, Yvonne posted
this photo on her Facebook page of a CFL that burnt out at her house.
She looked up burning CFLs on Snopes and
learned that they are not supposed to be a fire hazard. They can emit
smoke and odor at the end of their life, but they won't cause a fire.
This is good to know because I had the same thing happen to me. When I was unscrewing a dead CFL, the glass twirly thing snapped off on one side.
We kept seeing how those bulbs are supposed to last for years, but found that in our pendant lights which face downward, the heat would accumulate and the bulbs would die in a year or two.
We finally gave up and changed most of our CFLs to LEDs. I hope those last as long as they're supposed to.
This is good to know because I had the same thing happen to me. When I was unscrewing a dead CFL, the glass twirly thing snapped off on one side.
We kept seeing how those bulbs are supposed to last for years, but found that in our pendant lights which face downward, the heat would accumulate and the bulbs would die in a year or two.
We finally gave up and changed most of our CFLs to LEDs. I hope those last as long as they're supposed to.
I have not begun to use the new bulbs yet. They are so expensive! And, you're right! They don't last as long as they are supposed to. My old landlord had put them in this apartment and I have replaced two so far over the bathroom mirror.
ReplyDeleteI have only recently switched to the CFLs so will have to keep a close eye and see what will happen.
ReplyDeleteMine seem to last a long time and so far so good. No fires. Thanks for the warning, though. :-)
ReplyDeleteI never liked CFL light. The LED light is white, much brighter and clearer.
ReplyDeleteI hope so too. We have them everywhere.
ReplyDeleteYou made a good change I think!
ReplyDeleteMost of mine are LEDs now
ReplyDeleteThanks Kay, LEDs it will be.
ReplyDeleteimprovement is not always better...lol!
ReplyDeleteI don't like the cfls because they're too dull. However , I did learn from your post.
ReplyDeleteNow that you mentioned it, I have yet to have to change one out. They seem to last forever. Good to know that I don't have to worry when they do go up in smoke.
ReplyDeleteI got rid of ALL my CFLs. Forgot where I learned about them - but they are rather toxic because of the mercury and the glass shards. Whether true or not, I didn't like the looks and feel of them. CFLs, flourescent, and halogens are very damaging to art - makes the watercolors and print fade, so instead I use the old fashioned incandescent (getting harder to find) and sometimes use LEDs when I want a good strong light.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your LEDs!
I keep saying one needs a master's degree in lighting just to buy a light bulb these days. It shouldn't be that difficult! I hope the LEDs work.
ReplyDeleteWe are changing to LEDs too. I have never liked the delayed brightness of the CFLs, and they don't always work in all situations.
ReplyDeleteLuckily, Terry has replaced all our bulbs with LEDs.
ReplyDeleteSadly, this 'smoke' is a dangerous substance. They contain mercury. There are specific ways one is to deal with them. I wrote about it awhile ago. <= You can read how you are supposed to dispose of them there.
ReplyDelete