Wondering whether LED light bulbs get hot?
Well, you’re certainly not the first one (nor will you be the last one). Popular as LED light bulbs have become in the last few years, several misconceptions still surround them.
It’s no secret that LED lights are more energy-efficient than conventional light bulbs (like incandescent bulbs or halogen bulbs). LED light bulbs also last several times longer than these bulbs. Most homeowners (if not all) know this, but when it comes to the question of do LED light bulbs get hot, not many know the correct answer.
Do LED Light Bulbs Get Hot?
The answer, in short, is YES. LED light bulbs do get hot (contrary to what a lot of people think). But they are way much cooler than energy-guzzling halogen and incandescent bulbs.
And most importantly, LED light bulbs do not get in the manner we may assume.
Remember how you had to turn off a traditional bulb and wait for several minutes, until it cooled down, before swapping it? Incandescent bulbs are too hot to touch because they release most of their energy as heat, and the same is the case with CFLs.
However, LED lights do not produce infrared radiation. Even though the fixture itself releases some amount of heat, LED light bulbs do not get as hot as traditional bulbs.
As much as 90% of the energy received by an incandescent bulb is turned into heat. That means these bulbs use only 10% of energy to produce light. In contrast, LEDs bulbs utilize 80-85% of the received energy to produce light and only 20-25% of the energy produces heat.
Some people believe LED lights do not produce heat, but that is not the case. As said before, LED light bulbs (even the very best ones) do produce heat, but they do not produce heat in the way traditional bulbs do. Also, they produce far less heat compared to older bulbs.
Also, keep in mind that while LED light bulbs produce considerably less amounts of heat than traditional bulbs, they can heat up if they are left running in enclosed spaces having no ventilation, like a tiny glass shade.
Do All LED Light Bulbs Get Hot?
The answer is YES. There is no such thing as an LED bulb that doesn’t produce heat. The reason is simple: anything that produces energy will produce heat.
However, in the case of LED bulbs, you do not have to worry about them getting overheated. This usually happens only when LED light bulbs are used for an extended period in a small, enclosed space with no ventilation.
So, if you are using an LED light bulb in a tiny glass shade or a small, stuffy room without windows, take care to not use the bulb continuously for a long time.
Could LED Light Bulbs Start a Fire?
This is very unlikely because LED light bulbs produce only a little amount of heat, which is not sufficient to create an ignition.
However, if the LED light bulbs are not installed properly, or if there is some fault with the wiring circuit, fire can occur.
Why Pick LED Light Bulbs over Other Types of Bulb?
There are many reasons that make LED lights a far better option than traditional bulbs. Here are the three most important reasons for switching to LEDs:
- LEDs utilize 90% less energy compared to incandescent bulbs and 80% less energy compared to halogen bulbs.
- LEDs can last 25 times longer compared to incandescent bulbs. While halogen bulbs have a slightly longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs, they are no match for LED lights. Generally speaking, LEDs last up to 10 times longer than halogen bulbs.
- LEDs produce far less heat than incandescent and halogen bulbs.
To sum it up, LEDs require far less energy to produce the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs. Plus, they are environmentally friendly and safer.