Installing a fluorescent ceiling fixture has many benefits. When you are looking to install new ceiling fixtures, here are a few things to keep in mind regarding fluorescent lighting.
What’s the Difference?
A fluorescent light works in a much different manner than other lighting types. Fluorescent lights work by creating a chemical reaction rather than reacting to heat. Fluorescent lights don’t generate any heat at all. This makes them popular choices in areas with heat sensitive equipment, and small rooms like bathrooms and kitchens.
Cost
Anytime a home improvement project comes up, people will automatically look at costs. If you are installing a brand new fixture, then you can expect to pay three to four times as much up front for a fluorescent fixture as opposed to a traditional incandescent fixture.
The electrical components are much trickier as well. Most people will need to have a professional install the fixture. Once it’s installed however, maintenance can be performed easily by anyone.
One of the greatest benefits of fluorescent lighting though is the energy consumption. The bulbs may be a much greater cost than incandescent, but you will save up to 88% of the energy usage with the fluorescent bulb than a standard bulb. This is another reason they are becoming so popular. A compact 22 watt fluorescent bulb will put off the same light as a 100 watt incandescent bulb.
Fluorescent light bulbs will also last much longer than an incandescent bulb. It’s not uncommon to see a fluorescent tube used in kitchens to last as long as five years or more. Many people see this as well worth the cost of the bulb and installation.
Lighting
Generally speaking, a fluorescent bulb will not produce a very attractive light. They can be quite harsh and sharp. If you are thinking of installing fluorescent light fixtures in your home, you may want to limit them to bathrooms and kitchens. They are used quite commonly in decorative applications like lighted curio’s or cabinets. This is because the light produced will draw attention to the contents of the curio. A harsh light in a family room or bedroom can take away from the relaxing ambiance. You can purchase filters for your fixture that will help take the edge off the lighting, but they tend to be expensive.
Florescent lights can also flicker. This isn’t always a sign of the bulb needing to be replaced either. Sometimes in colder climates this can happen because of the way the temperature affects the gasses used to produce the light in the bulb. This can bother some people. The light that is reflected from a fluorescent light can be uneven and cause eye strain if you are in the light for long periods of time.
Bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and home offices are great places to add fluorescent fixtures. They will show you a cost savings on your monthly bill, and if installed properly will provide lighting for many years.
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