#Led warm light cans recessed lighting how to#
Mind made up? There’s just one last thing to consider: how to go about replacing your bulbs. For the home, you’re most likely looking for “warm white” or “soft white,” but know that the option’s there to go a little crazy. LEDs, on the other hand, have an impressive spectrum of lighting colors, and a great variety of options in terms of size. While many cherish the warm yellow of incandescents, that’s about the only color you can get from them. In addition, LED lights are significantly more compatible with dimmers than their CFL counterparts. Know this: CFL bulbs contain highly toxic mercury. Maybe you’re not opposed to ditching the incandescent, but you’re wondering why CFL bulbs aren’t the forerunner in the race. An LED bulb lasts an average of 50,000 hours compared to an incandescent bulb’s relatively sad 1,200 hour lifespan. Less energy use doesn’t just mean a lighter load on your wallet and the environment it also means less heat generated and lost, and therefore fewer side effects like those pesky ice dams. Keeping in mind that watts are actually the amount of energy the bulb uses, an LED bulb with similar brightness to a 60-watt incandescent emits only 8-12 watts. LEDs use a significantly less amount of energy. There are a laundry list of reasons why LEDs are the way to go over incandescent lights, but we’ll start with the short list: Make the switch to LED in your can lights Storing heat pockets within the soffit or overhang, for example, has the same effect as your warm attic on temporarily melting snow to initiate runoff that eventually freezes into dams. It’s outside, though - so what does it matter? Well, can lights used in the soffit, overhang, or other exterior surfaces of your home are becoming more and more common, and as you’ve probably guessed, they lead to those nasty ice dams as well. Outdoor can lights see an equal amount of heat loss. Suddenly you’re stuck with a much more expensive issue than simply swapping out some light bulbs. It’s a slippery slope (pun intended) at that point, as ice dams often eventually cause drywall, roof, and insulation damage. Your relatively warm attic spaces allows snow to melt on your roof, running off and refreezing at the edge to create ice dams. The heat lost escapes into your attic, effectively attempting to heat your attic. Interior lights using incandescent bulbs create a significant amount of heat. Replacing recessed light bulbs with LEDs comes with a number of long term advantages that are hard to ignore.īy now, you’ve probably heard the arguments for choosing LED bulbs over traditional incandescent ones, but why, specifically when it comes to canned lights in winter, is that so important? But here’s your friendly tip from GreenFIT this month: it’s time to make the change, and switch your can lights over to LEDs. The norm amongst can lighting of the past was incandescent bulbs - and largely still is in homes that have used them for a while.
What has changed is the type of bulb you should be using in them, as many consumers are now replacing their recessed lighting with LED lights. The style and function of the light hasn’t changed. They’ve been around for quite some time, and they’re great for rooms like your kitchen, living room, or over hot tubs outside. Now, go further.ĭo you used canned recessed lighting on either the interior or exterior of your home? “Canned” lighting are those inset lights that are good for directing spotlight, putting on dimmer switches, and creating an amiable atmosphere. “With electricity” is what you’re most likely thinking.