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LED Lights Upgrades: Some Basic Facts to Know

recessed-LED-lights

If you’re considering making an upgrade to your indoor lighting in Orchard Park, NY to use LED lights, then you’ve come to the right people to help. We handle indoor lighting services that can remake the way you light your house. Using LED bulbs is an excellent way to cut down on electrical costs while still enjoying full illumination. 

Although LED lights are becoming more popular with each year, there are numerous misunderstandings about them making the rounds. We’re going to share some facts with you about LED lighting to clear up some of these misconceptions. If you have any further questions, feel free to call us.

LED Stands for light-emitting diode

A small fact, but it’s nice to know what the initial stand for, isn’t it? What light emitting diode means is that the electrical current in the light doesn’t pass through a filament, but through a microchip, which then creates the visible light via a diode, a type of semiconductor that allows for one-way travel of electricity.

LED lights use less energy than incandescent lights

The lower-consumption of electricity in LED lights is usually the main reason people want to get them. But how much do they save? Consider that an LED bulb can work at 90% greater efficiency than incandescent bulbs and you’ll start to get a sense of the savings. They won’t always work at such efficiency, but they’ll still save money. 

LED lights don’t last forever—but they do last longer!

An LED light is not immortal, which is something people occasionally believe. But the difference in longevity compared to a standard incandescent bulb is tremendous, so we understand why it may seem like an LED light will never burn out. Where you can expect maybe three years, tops, from a conventional bulb, and LED bulb can last up to 11 years. 

LED lights are more expensive, but they soon pay back their cost

Don’t let anybody tell you that LED lights are too expensive to justify their cost. They cost more to manufacture than incandescent bulbs, but the combination of their high energy efficiency and their long lifespans makes them excellent investments. You can expect to pay back the installation costs of LED lights after only three years—which is the point where you would have to buy new incandescent lights.

LED lights are mercury-free

One of the benefits of using LED lights is that they’re better for the environment. This is not only because they consume less power and won’t stack up in the landfills because they last so long. It’s also because they contain no harmful mercury the way incandescent and CFL lights do. When you finally have to throw away an LED light, it won’t be spilling mercury into the ground below the landfill.

LED lights dim over time

Yes, this is one drawback. Rather than abruptly burnout the way incandescent bulbs do, LED lights experience “lumen depreciation” over time and become dimmer. This process isn’t pronounced until later in the lifespan of the light. When an LED light’s illumination drops by 30%, it’s at the end of its service life.

Scherer Electric is Western New York’s Favorite Electrician! Call us 24/7 for electrical services—always talk to a real person.

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