photo by Bludegeoner86
1: Don’t Touch The Glass Of Your CFL Bulb. Many people grasp their CFL bulbs by the glass to screw them in and out. This can make your bulbs burn out faster than they should. You should always grasp the base of the bulb.
2: Do Not Use CFL Bulbs in Extreme Hot or Cold. CFLs are sensitive to extreme temperatures. They will come on slowly in cold weather and if you use CFLs in enclosed fixtures they will burn out sooner because of the heat that builds up inside. You will get the most bang for your buck if you use CFLs in open fixtures.
If you use CFLs outdoors make sure they are made for outdoor use or covered.
3: CFL Bulbs are best for rooms that have the lights on for 15 minutes or more at a time. Of course, it’s always important to turn off the lights if you leave a room. However, CFLs in rooms you stay in for only a few minutes (i.e. bathrooms, laundry rooms) will burn out quicker and waste your investment. CFL bulbs used in rooms where they are lit for at least 15 minutes or more will last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. To save even more energy you should still turn off CFL bulbs if they’ve been burning for 15 minutes and you’ll be gone for more than a few minutes.
If you have a CFL bulb burn out sooner than it should click here to find out what to do.
