Most incandescent lamps are pretty straight forward consisting of a cord, plug, switch, and socket and just like any other appliance anyone of these parts can fail. Here are some tips to help extend the life of your lamp parts.
1. Clean
You should clean bulbs, lamp parts, and fixtures at least 3 times a year to remove dirt and dust which makes your lighting work harder and less efficiently. Use warm soapy water on the lamp and fixture itself, then rinse well. Use only a damp cloth on bulbs, and electronic components. Be sure to unplug the fixture when cleaning.
2. Minimum Watts
Always use the minimum wattage of bulb that you can get away with. Some areas require far less wattage than other areas. One 100 watt bulb will give you the same amount of light as two 60 watt bulbs but it will use less energy.
3. Timer
Use a timer to turn lights on at dusk and off in the morning. It's much more cost effective than leaving them on all day and it actually provides better security. There are many different timers available on the market with a variety of options.
4. Motion Sensor
Security lighting should be equipped to activate with motion sensors so when you or someone else walks under the beam the light is activated. It's saves on energy and lamp parts last much longer as they aren't getting as heavy of use.
5. Fluorescent Lights
Fluorescent lights last almost 20 times longer than an incandescent bulb and they provide just as much light. They are a lot more cost effective to operate and you won't be replacing parts nearly as often. Consider replacing incandescent bulbs with fluorescents.
If you have older fluorescent bulbs it's recommended you replace them with the new energy efficient models. They cost a bit more but they are much cheaper to operate.
6. Dimmers
Consider adding dimmers to any light you can. Dimmers are an excellent way to extend the life of your lamp bulbs and parts and they provide energy savings. They also add diversity. Whether you need a nice dim romantic lighting or bright task lighting a dimmer gives you options.
7. Night Lights
Night lights are a great way to reduce the wear on your light fixtures and keep your energy costs down. You can plug them in any room they are required and many have sensitive to light so they'll automatically shut off.
8. Fluorescent Adaptor Bulbs
To save on breakdown and bulb failure convert your incandescent fixtures to fluorescent using the adaptor bulbs that are available.
9. Prevention
Rather than waiting for your lamp to fail check all working parts at least twice a year. Check the plug and watch for burn marks, signs of overheating. Check the cord to ensure there are no nicks or cuts or wear spots. Examine the socket for signs of overheating or wear, and check the switch. Replace parts in advance of failure if there are signs of wear.
10. Turn It Off
There use to be a falsely that it was cheaper to leave a lamp on continuously then to shut it off and on. This simply isn't true. Leaving the light on wastes energy and reduces the life of your lamp and its parts so shut it off when it's not in use.
At some point a lamp part on your lamp will fail. Parts are easily available so a fix isn't too difficult. But by following these tips you can help extend the life expectancy of your lamp parts.
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