Why Do My Light Bulbs Keep Blowing Out?

Blown-out lightbulbs are a minor inconvenience, but in some cases, they indicate a more serious problem with your electrical system. Below, find out what's causing your bulbs to blow out and what you can do to stop it from happening again.

#1 Cheap Light Bulbs

Low-quality bulbs are more likely to blow out and burn out faster than high-quality bulbs. Because they’re made of weak filaments, they’re more vulnerable and more likely to break when the voltage gets too high. The solution? Switch to better bulbs that will last you a long time, such as light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.

#2 Loose Connections?

Your light bulbs may not be blown out – they may simply be flickering. A bulb will flicker on and off if it isn’t correctly screwed into its socket, as it will struggle to connect to the electrical current. If this is the case, the solution is straightforward – all you need to do is screw it on tightly

Loose connection issues can also be brought about by corroded or worn-out contacts in the bulb. In this case, you’ll need to call an electrician to replace the socket.

#3 Arcing

An arc is another common reason why your light bulbs may be blowing out. This can occur when the light bulb wasn’t correctly screwed into its socket. This loose connection causes the electricity to “jump” between two contact points, resulting in excessive heat. If you suspect that the cause of blown-out light bulbs is arcing, look for black spots at the bottom of the bulb. This is a sure sign of arcing and tells that you need to call your electrician.

But before you call your electrician, look for a metal tab at the bottom of the socket. If it's flat, bend it back upward with your fingers to correct the connection – but only if the bulb is completely disconnected from electricity!

#4 High Voltage

Bulbs tend to burn brighter and burn out faster if the voltage is too high. In general, the maximum voltage supplied to your property should only be about 125 volts. When the voltage is too high for too long, there’s a good chance that your bulbs will blow.

Get a voltage tester to check the current electrical levels. In case of overvoltage, consult a licensed electrician to get to the root of the issue. In some cases, the problem may be with your local electrical grid.

#5 Vibrations

Vibrations from other fixtures can cause your lightbulbs to blow out. A good example of this is a ceiling fan with lights, as its constant vibrations can break the light bulb’s very fragile filaments. When the connections are damaged, the light will no longer work. Even if the connections remain intact, the vibrations can still shorten the light bulb’s lifespan, causing it to burn out more rapidly.

The solution is to switch to LED lights. But if you don’t want to switch to LED lights, you should move items that vibrate a lot away from your lights.

#6 Bad Wiring

Another cause of blown-out bulbs is bad wiring. If there's something wrong with how the light bulb was connected to the wiring, it will get more energy than it can handle. Fluctuations are also more likely to occur. This raises the risk of a fire, so make sure to call an electrician to correct then issue stat. Fixing bad wiring is non-negotiable. .