Courtesy of the Grayson Collin Electric Cooperative - June 2010 issue

HEED a Few CFL No-Nos

One of the benefits of using compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) - other than significant energy savings - is that each bulb can last up to 10,000 hours, if used correctly.  But while CFLs can fit into nearly any light fixture, they aren't always a perfect choice.

Heed these CFL don'ts to extend the life of your energy-efficient bulbs:

Don't use a CFL in a fully enclosed, recessed fixture, as the heat will cause the CFL to cease working properly.  However, CFLs will generally work if the fixture is not completely recessed.  Check the packaging to see if the CFL can be used in an inverted position.
Don't use a regular CFL with a dimmer switch - this will cause the bulb to burn out in days or weeks.  Choose a CFL made specifically for use with dimmers.
Don't expect a regular CFL to produce three levels of brightness on a three-way switch.  While a CFL will work properly on the middle switch, a regular CFL will not produce light like an incandescent bulb in a three-way switch.  However, some manufacturers produce three-way CFLs.
Don't expose a CFL to the outdoor elements without a protective cover.  Check the packaging for the range of operating temperatures.
Don't use a CFL in a fixture with a lot of vibration, such as a ceiling fan or in conjuction with a garage door opener.  Vibrations can cause a CFL to fail.

These are a few things we didn't know and wanted to pass on.  For more information about the use of CFLs check www.epa.gov and http://www.dem.ri.gov/topics/pdf/cfloops.pdf .  Also consider this, if the light is to be on less than five minutes, is the CFL really a better choice? Read somewhere on the Web, that CFLs use more electricity in that case.  Be Energy Smart.

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