Light Bulb Buying Guide

Good Idea:  When replacing your bulb, make sure you take the old bulb with you to match the base size and bulb style. When replacing an appliance bulb, make sure you follow the manufacturer's recommendation.

Like most aspects of home improvement and home building, the lighting industry has developed its own language. Here are a few of the industry's most often used terms:

SAFETY NOTE:
Never exceed the maximum wattage recommended for your lamp!

An incandescent bulb is the most common type of bulb. They are inexpensive and available in a variety of colors and styles. Incandescent lamps are popular for their warm, pleasing color that complements skin tones:

• Most incandescent bulbs range from 15 to 150 watts.
  
  
• Incandescent bulbs are less expensive than halogen and fluorescent.
  
  
• They can be used with dimmer switches.

Compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) are the most energy-efficient of all light bulbs. They use 67 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last longer:

• CFLs are available in medium bases to fit standard light sockets.
  
  
• CFLs use less wattage than incandescent. For example, a standard 75-watt bulb is comparable to a 20-watt CFL in light output.
  
  
• CFLs cost more than incandescent bulbs, but they last up to sixteen times longer than incandescent bulbs.
  
  
• CFLs are available for outdoor use as well. Make sure the packaging indicates that the bulb is rated for outdoor use.
  
  
• CFLs may not hold up to the stress of power surges. So using them in areas such as workshops, isn't advisable.
  
  
• If the outlet is wired for a dimmer or three-way bulb, make sure you purchase a CFL rated for the specific use.

Fluorescent light bulbs have been traditionally a linear light source, but also come in u-shaped and circular. Fluorescent tubes will not work without a ballast. Fluorescent bulbs last longer than incandescent.

Color has been a big issue for many years with fluorescent bulbs. Now, you can get a wide variety of options to enhance your indoor environment:

• Sunlight- good for residential or commercial areas where outdoor light is minimal.
  
  
• Cool white-good for office, retail, school, basement and workshop areas.
  
  
• Soft white-Enrich your design and give it a hint of softness to enhance mood, combine with spotlights to highlight a particular object or feature.
  
  
• Natural color-good for retail and commercial areas where high color rendition is preferred.
  
  
• Black light- provides special effects for glow in the dark items. It is good for parties or kids' rooms.

Aquarium- This bulb is specifically made for fish tanks. For tanks with fish only, the bulb should provide lighting that minimizes the growth of algae and maximizes the color of the fish. In tanks containing coral and plants, the spectrum of the light becomes a factor. There must be adequate amounts of red and blue light for photosynthesis.

Both incandescent and halogen light bulbs use the same technology and filament to produce light. However, halogen bulbs are more efficient than incandescent bulbs, but cost a little more.

• Halogens last up to three times longer and produce almost 50 percent more light for the same amount of energy.
  
  
• Halogens product the brightest, purest light and makes tasks like reading easier.
  

• Always use a clean rag to handle a halogen bulb when changing. The oil from skin will cause the bulb to burn hotter and reduce its longevity.