Electricity safety is critical for the safety of your property to the extent that you don’t want to work with any faulty electric appliance.
One of the common indicators of a faulty electrical connection is frequent light bulb blows out.
While you can easily replace a blown-out light bulb, finding the cause of the frequent blowing is always advisable.
So, Can A Bad Light Switch Cause Light Bulbs To Blow Out?
Sometimes, if the live connection in your faulty switch is loose, it can cause free movement of electricity to parts that should not receive live power. Heat will be generated, and the bulb will blow out due to damaged wires. There are also other reasons why your bulbs blow out. The best solution is to call in an electrician to inspect your bulbs and find out the cause of the problem.
See Also: Can You Replace A 15-Amp Light Switch with A 20-Amp?
Why Do Light Bulbs Blow Frequently, And What Are The Solutions?
Several reasons might be making your bulbs blow out.
As said before, instead of buying new bulbs to replace those that had blown out immediately, it is imperative first to identify the cause of blowing and try to solve it.
Here are some of the causes:
1. Poor Quality Bulbs
Poor-quality bulbs are mostly cheap and can attract you to purchase them. However, they will likely blow out, pushing you to buy a replacement.
Cheap bulbs have a thinner filament which can break easily. With such bulbs, even the slightest fluctuation in voltage can lead to the blowing of low-quality bulbs.
Solution
Always ensure you purchase high-quality bulbs with a thick and stronger filament that can resist cracks.
Buy bulbs that have a small wattage to avoid straining the voltage capacity of your electricity supply.
High-quality bulbs have a warranty and are sold at a relatively higher price.
2. High Voltage
High voltage is among the many reasons why most bulbs blow out immediately after they are turned on.
Even the slightest rise in voltage can affect the lifespan of an ordinary light bulb.
See Also: Do Mobile Homes Require Arc Fault Breakers?
Once the voltage surpasses the expected 240 V, it generates extra heat, making the bulb blow.
High voltage flowing for a long time can cause significant electrical damage.
Solution
Before setting in light bulbs, use a tester to confirm the voltage flow or call an electrician to help solve the issue.
3. Mechanical Vibrations
Mechanical vibrations tend to lower the life expectancy of a light bulb.
For cheap bulbs with a soft filament, you must understand that they are weak and can break even at the slightest vibrations.
Once it breaks, the entire bulb will blow out, and you won’t have light in your home again.
You will need to reduce or avoid any strong vibrations near the areas with your bulbs.
Solution
Lower vibrations and also buy bulbs with strong filaments.
LED bulbs are a better option here because they help you save on electricity consumption and can withstand vibrations, thus preventing unusual blowouts.
4. Loose Connection
A loose connection can cause a few sparks within the lamp holder.
The loose connections also lead to frequent power jumps.
Poor connection simply indicates that electricity isn’t flowing smoothly.
In the long run, it leads to overheating, which eventually blows the bulb.
Solution
Always hire a qualified and certified electrician to do wiring on your property to avoid loose connections.
If you are in a new house, bring in an electrician to confirm that the wires are correctly placed and that every socket works just as effectively as it should.
5. Arcing Electricity
This occurs when the light bulb fails to make a proper snug connection with the attached hardware in the bulb socket.
Ultimately, this causes an arc of electricity between the light bulb and the socket.
Generally, arcing electricity generates extra heat, which blows out the connected bulbs.
It is easier to identify this problem by looking at the socket or the installed light bulb.
If you suspect arcing night has occurred, remove the bulb and check out for pittings or dark spots. If present, then it means arcing has occurred.
Solution
Ensure all power outlets are correctly installed, and you check out for arcing regularly.
6. Wrong Light Bulb Wattage
Check on the box of the bulb for wattage.
If you use the wrong wattage for some bulbs, they will likely blow out after a short period of use.
Even though they will light brighter, you will only enjoy the brightness briefly.
Solution
If you find that the bulb you choose has a small wattage, switch to bulbs with a wattage that can fit your light needs.
7. Wrong Bulb
If you have installed the wrong bulbs, they will likely blow out when turned on.
For example, CFL light bulbs are known for working for a short period and not lasting long. If turned on and off frequently, their lifespan will likely be lower.
Solution
Opt for LED bulbs that are confirmed to last longer and are not easily affected by minor electric errors.
8. Short Circuits
When electricity flows outside the normal pathway of wires, this makes the circuit trip, and your lights will likely blow out.
Solution
Always double-check for defective parts along your power lines to prevent shorts.
Check on the sockets, cords, wires, and other items that might be having problems.
Replace them with quality new power outlets that can cut down the power supply in case of a shortage in power flow.
9. A Wrong Choice Of A Dimmer Switch
If your switch is faulty or has been used for a long time, it might be why your bulbs keep blowing out.
Solution
Upgrade your switch if it is old or repair a switch that has faults.
Conclusion
A light switch is among a home’s few commonly used electric features and should always be in a good state.
A faulty switch might be why your bulbs keep blowing, even though they are not old.
Consider the above to identify other reasons for continued light bulb blows and how to fix them.
Sources
https://www.diydoctor.org.uk/projects/bulbs.htm
https://us-electric.com/wondering-why-your-bulbs-keep-blowing-out-heres-the-answer/