If your home relies on incandescent and compact fluorescent bulbs, you’re due for some upgrades. LED bulbs have significant advantages, and their prices continue to drop. LED bulbs use less electricity, emit less heat, and last longer than other bulb types. However, choosing replacement LED bulbs for your home isn’t always straightforward. Here’s everything you need to know to choose the right LED bulbs.
Understanding Wattage Differences
When shopping for LED bulbs, you’ll notice that they come in lower wattage amounts than other options. That’s because LEDs don’t require as much electricity as other bulb types to produce the same light output. As a result, you will need to learn how to convert between the bulb wattages you’re used to and LED wattages. Unfortunately, there’s no magic formula you can use, so it’s a good idea to keep the following information handy:
- 25-watt incandescent equals 4-watt LED
- 40-watt incandescent equals 6-watt LED
- 60-watt incandescent equals 10-watt LED
- 75-watt incandescent equals 15-watt LED
- 100-watt incandescent equals 20-watt LED
- 150-watt incandescent equals 30-watt LED
It’s worth pointing out that upgrading to LED bulbs can allow you to increase a fixture’s light output. You can install an LED bulb that’s roughly twice as bright as the incandescent it replaces. Even then, you’d be using a much lower-wattage LED bulb. The only reason not to install an even brighter LED is heat. If your fixture doesn’t have sufficient airflow around its bulbs, it could shorten the life of your LED bulbs. If your fixture has ample airflow, you can install an LED with a wattage up to the maximum rating of the fixture.
Most LED lightbulb manufacturers list conversion information on their packaging. You can consult the box an LED bulb comes in to see what kind of incandescent bulb it replaces. You will also find that information posted in most home improvement and retail stores.
Understanding Lumens
If you don’t want to convert bulb wattages when you buy LED bulbs, you can use their lumen rating instead. That measures how much light you can expect from a bulb. The lumen rating is universal, so it won’t vary based on what kind of bulb you purchase. For example, a standard 100-watt incandescent bulb outputs approximately 1,600 lumens. To get that many lumens from a CFL bulb, you’d need a 23-watt CFL. For an LED bulb, you’d need a 20-watt LED. You can purchase the correct bulb if you know how many lumens you need from a given light fixture. The following are some common lumen values for bulbs in your home.
- 25-watt incandescent outputs 250 lumens
- 40-watt incandescent outputs 560 lumens
- 60-watt incandescent outputs 800 lumens
- 75-watt incandescent outputs 1100 lumens
- 100-watt incandescent outputs 1600 lumens
- 150-watt incandescent outputs 2600 lumens
Understanding Color Temperature
One common problem many people have when upgrading to LED bulbs is selecting the right color temperature. If you don’t know enough about this process, you may end up with a bulb whose light output seems harsh or unusually yellow. The measurement of color temperature is in degrees of Kelvin (K), ranging from 1,000 to 10,000. To get started, you should know that the most common type of incandescent bulb used today is a warm white bulb. That corresponds to a color temperature of around 2700K. That will offer the slightly yellowish light most people expect in the living areas of their homes. It’s not overly harsh and creates a very cozy atmosphere.
A cool white bulb, by contrast, has a color temperature of around 3000K. It will be much closer to the pure white you’d expect from a fluorescent bulb. You’ll find cool white bulbs in entryways, kitchens, and bathroom vanities. They work best where comfort isn’t your primary concern but where you must see your surroundings in detail. People often describe cool white bulbs as brighter, producing sharper lines between light and dark.
Finally, you’ll also find bulbs that provide light that simulates daylight. They have color temperatures of around 5000K. Daylight bulbs work well for task lighting and in workshops and garages. Elsewhere, they may be too harsh and unpleasant to the average person’s eye. After all, there’s a reason people wear sunglasses on excessively bright days.
You should know that some LED bulbs feature selectable color temperatures. They can make an excellent option when you need as much lighting flexibility as possible. For example, you might want a cool white bulb in your dining room when using it to prepare food. However, you’d likely want a warm white bulb when serving that food. A selectable bulb gives you both in a single package.
Additional LED Bulb Types
If you have any of your incandescent fixtures attached to a dimmer switch, there are things you should know. One is that not all dimmers work correctly with LED bulbs. That means you may need LED-compatible dimmers installed before making the switch. Also, you’ll need dimmable LED bulbs. You will find an LED bulb’s dimming capability marked on its packaging.
Some LED bulbs also have features you won’t find in other bulb varieties. For example, you can find LED bulbs with color-selectability. They’re different from LED bulbs that let you choose color temperature. Color-selectable LED bulbs can provide light in a rainbow of colors. Many come with a remote control that enables you to change their color from anywhere nearby.
Many advanced LED bulbs also feature Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity. The former enables control of the bulb from your smartphone, usually using a manufacturer-supplied app. The latter enables integration with other smart home devices. For example, you can use a smart speaker to turn a Wi-Fi bulb on and off using your voice. Or you can set up schedules to turn your bulbs on and off when you expect to need them.
You can also find bulbs with light and motion-sensing capabilities built in. They can work well in outdoor fixtures where manual control would be inconvenient. Bulbs with light and motion sensitivity only come on when it’s dark and someone passes by. They can turn your existing outdoor fixtures into security lights with that functionality.
Your Source for LED Knowledge
Since 2008, Absolute Services has been a leading home services provider in Louisville, KY. We offer comprehensive electrical services, including repair and installation of lighting fixtures. If you have questions about adding LED lighting to your home, we can help. We also provide complete HVAC services, plumbing, drain cleaning, garage doors, and generators. In short, we can handle all your home’s infrastructure needs. We prioritize clear communication and exceptional customer service. Our HVAC technicians, plumbers, and electricians have the latest training and credentials. We even offer financing options on approved credit for larger home improvement projects. Feel free to check our customer reviews to see what to expect when working with us.
If you have questions about different LED lighting options in Louisville, call the experts at Absolute Services today for expert electrical installation.
