Symptoms
- New bulbs fail within weeks or months instead of years
- Happens repeatedly in the same fixture
- Bulbs may look darkened or the filament/LED visibly failed
Likely causes
- CommonEnclosed fixture trapping heatLEDs and even some incandescents shorten their life significantly when heat can't dissipate in a sealed fixture.
- CommonUsing the wrong bulb type for an enclosed or damp fixtureBulbs not rated for enclosed use overheat and fail early in those fixtures.
- PossibleVibration from a fan, garage door, or nearby equipmentVibration is hard on filament and LED driver components alike.
- PossibleVoltage running higher than normal on that circuitPersistently high voltage shortens bulb life across all bulbs on a circuit.
- PossibleA loose socket or fixture connection causing arcingA loose contact can slowly damage each bulb installed.
What to do
- Check the fixture's manual or label for any bulb wattage or type restrictions.
- Switch to LED bulbs specifically rated for enclosed fixtures if that's the fixture type.
- Note if the fixture is near a fan, garage door, or other vibration source.
- Try a bulb from a different brand or batch to rule out a bad batch.
- Check if other fixtures on the same circuit also have short bulb life, which points to voltage rather than the fixture.
- Have an electrician check the socket for looseness or damage if a new bulb also fails quickly in that exact fixture.
- Ask an electrician to check circuit voltage if multiple fixtures throughout the house show early bulb failure.
Tools and parts
Enclosed-fixture-rated LED bulbSearch: “LED bulb rated for enclosed fixtures”
When to call a pro
Call an electrician if bulbs keep failing quickly across multiple fixtures, which can point to a voltage problem worth checking.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.