No matter where you are, the number of homes and businesses switching to LED lights continues to grow. Despite this switch becoming more commonplace, people continue to make the same mistakes as others as they incorporate LED lighting. Learning the most common mistakes people make when switching to LED can prevent you from doing the same thing.
Lighting Without a Purpose
It might surprise you to learn that the lighting configuration in your home or business has a purpose. Certain fixtures are in a particular spot to set the mood, help you perform certain tasks, or shine a light on something you want to emphasize. You might lose their purpose if you replace weaker incandescent bulbs with LED ones in these spots.
Many LEDs emit light in all directions, whereas tasks and spotlights provide a specific light beam in one location. Putting an LED bulb in one of these lights could lead to shadows and an aesthetically-unnerving clashing of lights.
Choosing the Incorrect Manufacturer
Some folks may think all LED lights and suppliers are virtually identical. But Coke has a different taste than Pepsi, and LED suppliers—albeit similar in many ways— can be vastly different.
The production of LED lights is a flourishing market. As demand grew, a plethora of new LED manufacturers emerged. Unfortunately, not every business provides legitimate goods and services.
The quality of certain bulbs can be volatile, requiring you to narrow your search down to a manufacturer that checks all your boxes and has a positive reputation.
Fortunately, you won’t have these concerns if you shop with us. We ensure every LED A19 bulb is up to par, or else we wouldn’t carry it.
Misunderstanding Power
The wattage of your lights is the unit of measure for their power consumption. Several options for lighting have the same wattage as traditional incandescent bulbs. And many people think that adhering to the wattage of the original bulb is the best strategy to find a replacement. Sadly, that line of thinking is incorrect.
Converting LED wattage to less energy-efficient options is not straightforward. A light bulb’s or a fixture’s wattage is not always proportional to its efficacy. Instead, lumen per watt (LPW) should be the predominant factor for your basis of buying. LPW describes how much light a given amount of electricity produces, which is LED’s strongest attribute.
Failure To Comprehend CRI and CTT
In addition to knowledge about wattage and LPW, the color rendering index (CRI) and color temperature (CTT) are two critical values worth considering.
CRI is a rather technical industry term. This figure measures how well a given light source reproduces color. The typical CRI for LED lights is between 70 and 90. Why is this number valuable? Certain areas of a home or business require a better CRI than others.
In kitchens and places that require bright lighting to remain safe, the CRI should be on the higher end of the spectrum. On the other hand, outdoor fixtures that light walkways can be on the lower side.
CTT refers to a light’s temperature in terms of Kelvin. We all remember seeing Kelvin’s temperatures in our science books, and you might have wondered why this measurement’s figures were much larger than Fahrenheit and Celsius. You’ll want to acclimate yourself to Kelvin because CTT will make more sense when you consider a different kind of temperature measurement.
Kelvin ranges from 1,200 to 2,700K, providing a warm, soft light that’s good for your home. Office and work settings need at least 3,000K to protect your eyes from constantly squinting from poor lighting. Finally, museums and other art institutions will want 5,000K to detail the finest works in the history of civilization.
Not Getting a Warranty
While the classic ’90s film Tommy Boy detailed why personal guarantees are hogwash using a bull and butcher analogy, a solid guarantee can actually make or break a deal.
Don’t forget to ask about warranties whenever you make a purchase. Quality and guarantee are usually in tandem with the realm of LED lighting.
You should avoid buying from a firm if they don’t guarantee their wares. If so, find out how long the firm stands behind its product. Observing how they interact with customers might also be instructive.
Not Overhauling the Dimmers
An adjustable dimmer for your lighting arrangement is a wonderful bonus many people love to have. Whether it’s to create an inviting ambiance or save a few bucks, it’s nice to lower the brightness on demand. If you’re switching to LEDs for the first time, there’s one problem—they aren’t optimal for the previous setup.
Inserting LEDs in the previous fixtures and dimmers won’t always work unless you overhaul the whole system. So don’t forget this helpful tip before you assume everything will be hunky dory with your dimmer after installing new bulbs.
Miscalculating the Light Needed
As discussed throughout this post, LEDs are much more efficient than traditional light bulbs. Additionally, we know that LEDs are omnidirectional, giving off light beams regardless of their focal point. Because of these factors, replacing every old fixture with an LED light might be overkill.
Consumers fall into the trap of taking stock of how many lights they had previously and ordering the same number of LED bulbs, not accounting for LEDs improvements. Although investigating these matters may be costly and time-consuming, doing so may save money in the long run.
Not Shopping Around
As with anything in life, you should explore your options before making a final decision. You wouldn’t go to the first mechanic you see to fix your bumper and settle on the price they give. The smart decision is to get multiple quotes from other shops to see who’s reasonable and who’s ripping you off.
Since we know many businesses are entering the LED lighting market to meet the growing demand for these products, you might be able to take advantage of a temporary decrease in prices. After all, businesses want to attract consumers and win market share at the expense of competitors.
Most consumers overlook this important consideration when switching to more efficient LED bulbs. LEDs are more costly than incandescent bulbs, so a price drop would be welcome, particularly if you buy in bulk.
Failing To Capitalize on Rebates
In addition to saving money on their power costs, business owners who transition to LED lighting are eligible for incentives. Different utility providers provide different rebates, and eligibility for each refund is conditional on meeting certain criteria for the installed system.
Because you can reap the rewards, you must provide a detailed description of your new lighting setup when requesting reimbursement.
Avoiding the common mistakes people make when switching to LED will pay dividends. You will enjoy energy-efficient bulbs while saving money on the monthly utility bills, whether for your home, business, or both.
Stylighting wants to help you make the switch by providing world-class LED lights at an everyday low price. With our help, you can transform your business by having amazing, long-lasting, environmentally friendly LED lights!
