Switching to CFL Light Bulbs (family room, shower, compare, basement)

[MattOTAlex]

Originally Posted by PNWGuy

if cost is not an issue, I would choose LEDs over CFLs. Typical 60 watt bulbs are about $15 each at costco/home depot/lowes.

I have tried both. Was satisfied with neither. The light that they emit is ugly.

CFLs are quite hazardous too. I would not recommend employing them in a home that has children.

[DeannaC]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Don't use the bare spiral CFLs. My son injured his eyes a few days ago.

Photokeratitis from merely looking into the top of the lampshade for the briefest second.

It was super painful and took a couple of days for him to recover. Sometimes there can be permanent damage too.

I am furious these bulbs are being pushed on us and there aren't even warnings on the packaging.

Here is information about the risks and which segments of the population are most at risk.

Yep, Idk if anyone's addressed this, but, there are warnings that if you break one, call such and such a number. Well, my neighbor called that number and the HAZMAT team closed down our stinkin neighborhood and brought in a contamination crew to clean it up!!

I use regular light bulbs. They don't have side effects

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by DeannaC

Yep, Idk if anyone's addressed this, but, there are warnings that if you break one, call such and such a number. Well, my neighbor called that number and the HAZMAT team closed down our stinkin neighborhood and brought in a contamination crew to clean it up!!

That's hardly the recommended course of action. You do need to be careful because they have mercury in them, but so do the fluorescent lights that are in nearly every office and school.

snopes.com: CFL Mercury Light Bulbs

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by DeannaC

Yep, Idk if anyone's addressed this, but, there are warnings that if you break one, call such and such a number. Well, my neighbor called that number and the HAZMAT team closed down our stinkin neighborhood and brought in a contamination crew to clean it up!!

That's nuts. I broke a thermometer on our carpeting. I didn't do the best job of cleaning it up. Nothing happened to any family members or pets, and I didn't replace the carpeting until 15 years later. It is important to take it seriously, but HAZMAT is overkill.

[mathjak107]

Originally Posted by MattOTAlex

I have tried both. Was satisfied with neither. The light that they emit is ugly.

CFLs are quite hazardous too. I would not recommend employing them in a home that has children.

good led's emit a nice white light. not sure what brand you used or if they were those cheapies but no way is the led light ugly.

we just did an led retrofit job for a famous church here in nyc and they look fabulous.

we are re-doing Bronx Lebanon hospital and albert Einstein medical center with them as well and both look just great.


I like Philips the best but maxlite, tcp and Sylvania make very good products

[MattOTAlex]

Originally Posted by mathjak107

good led's emit a nice white light. not sure what brand you used or if they were those cheapies but no way is the led light ugly.

we just did an led retrofit job for a famous church here in nyc and they look fabulous.

we are re-doing Bronx Lebanon hospital and albert Einstein medical center with them as well and both look just great.


I like Philips the best but maxlite, tcp and Sylvania make very good products

Thanks for the guidance. I'll pick up a Philips when I'm at the Ace H/W next, and give it a shot.

[Rangerdude_Charlie]

I do not care for these light bulbs and the artificial light they give off. I agree with the other posters about these being forced on us. Very frustrating. I had some years ago and one exploded on me. Little did I know at the time is that you can get mercury poisoning from it. I cleaned it up and didn't realize there was a proper way to clean it up. I remember after it happening my dad sending me a link about the dangers of mercury poisoning from the light bulbs and a women who had one break in her infants room. I guess now is the time to stock up on incandescent bulbs.

Charlie.

[mathjak107]

The time to stock up was more than a year ago. They are in very short supply and a whole lot more money.

We are out of most incandescents at this stage and can't get anymore from our suppliers.

[MrWillys]

I'm a tight wad, and I love cfl's. My neighbors leave their porch lights on all night, but I shut everything off. We have all cfl's in our house.

[mathjak107]

I don't own one and i am in the business. They are awful light sources.