For some time now, most people have been using the traditional incandescent bulbs for their recessed lighting. However, things are changing, and you also need to change the kind of bulbs for the recessed lighting. But can you use LED bulbs in recessed lighting?
Yes, you can use LED bulbs in recessed lighting. These bulbs are more advantageous than the other types of bulbs. For example, LED bulbs use less energy and produce less heat to the surrounding environment. These bulbs are also durable and come in various improved colors.
Read on to understand why you can use LED bulbs in recessed lighting.
Is It Okay to Use LED Bulbs in Recessed Lighting?
Yes. You need to use LED bulbs in recessed lighting in your home, retail or commercial house. Remember, recessed lighting makes your rooms attractive, modern, and have a clean look. But the LED bulbs help you reduce electric bills and make the house comfortable to stay in as they don’t emit excess heat.
Why You Need to Use LED Bulbs in Recessed Lighting
There are several reasons why you need to go for LED bulbs for your recessed lighting. They include;
Energy Efficiency
You need to use LED lights in recessed lighting because they’re good energy savers. If you’ve got LED bulbs, your electric consumption will be less by 85% than when using incandescent bulbs. This is also 30% less than what fluorescent bulbs consume.
The LED bulbs require less wattage to run but produce adequate light output. For example, a 12-watt LED bulb will produce light output similar to what a 60-watt halogen or incandescent bulb can. But the LED bulb will use 85% less energy than the incandescent bulb. Meaning you’ll be saving a lot of power when using LED bulbs in your recessed lighting.
If this is the case, your electric bills will be low, and you’ll be able to save on costs. Additionally, less energy consumption helps reduce carbon emissions, conserving the environment. This will also help boost all citizens’ health as carbon emissions adversely affect human beings.
Produce Less Heat
Another reason you need to use LED bulbs for recessed lighting is that they produce less heat. When these bulbs are using less energy to light, they emit less heat in the end. So, your house will be comfortable to stay in when the bulbs are on.
You’ll also not spend much money running the AC in the house as the heat emitted is less. In the end, your AC will last longer as it doesn’t strain much while trying to reduce the heat indoors.
Durable And Harmless
You will also not have to replace your bulbs regularly if you’re using LED bulbs regularly. This is because they are long-lasting. These bulbs are about 50 times more durable than the other types meaning you’ll not do regular maintenance, saving some money in the process. A LED bulb can take up to 11 years running if you use it for about 12 hours a day.
The LED bulbs also don’t contain mercury, a dangerous component that can harm you. The other types, like CFLs, have mercury which requires you to dispose of them well to avoid contaminating landfills.
Comes In Different and Better Colors
If you opt for LED bulbs, you’ll have a variety of colors to choose from. The LED lights also don’t produce infrared light that can affect the color of your artwork or fabrics in the room. You can settle for warm white or soft white LED bulbs for your home. But there are other colors that can help you bring the crazy part of you. You can also get LED bulbs in different sizes, giving you the lighting effect you desire.
Should You Replace Bulbs Without Replacing the Light Fixtures in A Recessed Lighting?
This is debatable as you can decide to replace the fixtures or not. If the LED bulbs fit in and there’s adequate voltage, you can swap the bulbs from incandescent to LED bulbs. But ensure the bulb base fits well.
When replacing the bulbs, also consider the purpose of installing them. For example, if you had decorative halogen light bulbs let their replacement serve the same purpose. So, if you’re replacing them, you need to settle for decorative LED bulbs.
But the wattage doesn’t have to be the same as that of the bulbs you’re replacing. Instead, be keen on the light output (lumen), which equals power consumption.
Tips To Use When Replacing Bulbs
Note that there are many options you can settle for if you decide to use LED bulbs in recessed lighting that had other types of bulbs. If you have different kinds of bulbs and consider replacing them with LED bulbs in recessed lighting, it’s advisable to do the following;
Replace the bulb, which is the easiest option you have here. Although it’s the easiest way, it’s not the best choice as it can affect the quality of lights. Remember, the previous housing wasn’t built to work with LED bulbs. So, it will reduce its lifespan, making you incur additional costs.
But you can consider changing the trim and bulb. This cheap hack can cause dimming issues and may give you challenges while sizing the retrofit.
However, the best option is to replace the whole fixture with an LED system.
Do You Need Special Fixture for LED Lights in Recessed Lighting?
There are instances when you need to have special fixtures for LED bulbs. This is especially where the old fixture is likely to cause a dimming effect or not compatible with the LED bulbs. Get a fixture that enables the LED bulbs to have cool conditions to work easily. Also, don’t put your LED bulbs in an enclosed application which will affect how it works.
Also, ensure the fixture is well ventilated to facilitate heat dissipation. Let the fixture be open from all sides to enable your LED bulb to function well. But if you’ve got an enclosed rated LED bulb with a bigger aluminum heat sink, use it on an enclosed fixture.
Bottom Line
It’s best to use LED bulbs to help you lower electric bills and reduce heat production in the house as recessed lighting becomes more popular. Choose the right type of LED bulb which meets your purpose of installing recessed lighting. Then consider whether you need to replace the fixtures or not depending on how compatible your LED bulbs are.
