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Incandescent lightbulbs vs LED lightbulbs
The incandescent bulb is the bulb the majority of us will be most familiar with. It is the most widely recognised lightbulb and has been used in family homes and businesses for years. However, as energy prices drastically increase many people are beginning to consider a more sustainable and cost-efficient option.
The LED bulb, although still broadly known, is becoming increasingly popular due to its longevity, energy efficiency and low maintenance costs.
So, which bulb should you be using and what are the pros and cons of each?
Incandescent bulbs – why choose them?
The number one reason most people grab these light bulbs off the shelves is because of their low initial costs. They are very budget-friendly and typically very accessible to everyone.
If these bulbs are sat next to an LED bulb in your local shop, your eyes will immediately be drawn to the cost difference between the two of them. Of course, the cost, like most things, directly reflects on the product you’re buying. We will get into this later.
A great advantage of incandescent bulbs is that they are the best candidate for dimmer switches. As they directly rely on the electrical current flowing through them, the glow of the filament inside can be controlled easily to be able to change the light quality they produce. This can’t be said for incandescent bulb counterparts as not all other bulbs are compatible with dimmer switches.
Additionally, they don’t require any warm-up time. As mentioned before, the light they emit is directly down to the electrical current flowing through to the filament. This means when switched on at full power, they will brighten a room immediately.
Incandescent bulbs – what are their downfalls?
At face value, they are cheaper, however, LED bulb longevity is unmatched. On average an Incandescent bulb will last between 750-2,000 hours before it will need replacing. So financially, they work out more expensive over the years.
On top of that, they require more energy to run, as 90% of the energy they emit goes on heat. Meaning the bulbs themselves can get dangerously hot to touch, should you need to change a burnt-out bulb, you would have to wait a little while to replace it. More energy means more money.
LED bulbs – why choose them?
LED bulbs are extremely reliable when it comes to their longevity. Their average lifetime hours range from 35,000-50,000 hours. LEDs don’t burn the same way as many other bulbs, the amount of light they emit steadily reduces over time, this is called lumen depreciation.
Even the cheapest LED bulbs will last for around 5,000 hours which is still significantly greater than an incandescent bulb. If you want to get the most out of your LED bulb, however, we do advise you to go for a branded bulb as the cost will most definitely be worthwhile.
Furthermore, they are very energy efficient. Due to their high lumen output per watt, they are capable of turning about 70% of their energy into light. It only takes a 6-watt LED bulb to produce the same amount of light that a 40-watt incandescent bulb does. Their low temperate also enables you to change them safely, especially in comparison to other bulbs.
LED bulbs – what are their downfalls?
Firstly, they can be expensive. As we mentioned earlier, you do have the choice of branded vs non branded. This can help you save some pennies here and there if you’re on a budget. But typically, their up-front cost is considerably higher than most other bulbs.
Should you want to use a dimmer switch for your LED bulb, you will need to buy a specific kind of switch. Your regular dimmer switches won’t work with an LED bulb as they require very little power. Using a normal dimmer switch can lead to shortened bulb life, lower light and an annoying buzzing sound.
Above are the most common pros and cons to help you determine which bulb would be best for you. The decision is ultimately yours, but should you want to make the switch to LED bulbs we can help. Find out how here.
Contact our team here for more information.