Why do light bulbs explode?

Why do light bulbs explode?
  • Author: Amanda Arnold
  • Posted On: August 24, 2021
  • Updated On: August 21, 2023

Are you searching for the main reasons for bulbs exploding? If yes, you are at the right place. We have compiled the fundamental reasons or causes behind the bulb explosion. Undoubtedly, we all suffer from this issue at some point. But it doesn’t mean that it will happen all time.

Unfortunately, a bulb explosion could be dangerous, especially if you are not at home or lying under the light bulb. That’s why it’s essential to know the leading causes of this issue. So you can save yourself or your property from a significant loss.

Well, we see many light bulbs in our homes and offices. But the main issue occurs when a bulb explodes instead of fusing or burning. However, you can avoid this situation by considering or understanding the primary factors that lead to the bulb’s explosion.

Luckily! You can do many things to avoid the bulb’s explosion after knowing the central facts behind this issue. Do you want to save your room’s light or bulb from the explosion? If yes, keep learning and get better answers to all your queries related to this topic.

Do Light Bulbs Really Explode?

Do Light Bulbs Really Explode

Yes, but not in a way that’s as dramatic as you may see in a movie or television. When a lightbulb explodes, there is a larger inner boom rather than the glasses breaking into a million pieces. Anyone who uses a light bulb in carpeted areas should feel relieved.

Sharp glasses of any size should be avoided, especially if children or pets are nearby. Incandescent lighting is currently considered to be a dinosaur in the lighting business. When people discuss dangerous light bulb explosions, they typically mean the drawbacks of conventional incandescent illumination. This flaw has existed with conventional light bulbs and cannot be fixed with adhesive.

Why Do Light Bulbs Explode? Reasons

Lack Of Protection

 Lack Of Protection

We all know that insulation material or sheet offers better protection to the bulbs. However, most companies don’t consider adding insulation material to the base of blubs. Unfortunately, lack of insulation leads to blub explosion. The bulb’s head can melt quickly and in no time if there is no insulation material in the base frame.

Moreover, once the base has melted, the gas will leak from the bulb. It may also become the leading cause of bulb fuse. So, you have to check the properties of bulbs while buying them.

Inappropriate Bulb Wattage

Remember to choose the socket with the same wattage as the bulb. Otherwise, the difference in wattage may harm your power supply and explode the bulb.

Inappropriate Bulb Wattage

For this, you have to consider the fixture setup or structure according to the wattage requirements of the bulb. Indeed, it is always an excellent option to buy a blub with low wattage. It would be more suitable at the fixture time, especially if you don’t know about the complete setup.

Thermal Stress

If you don’t know about this term, let’s discuss it for a better understanding. Thermal stress rises when the bulb fails to scatter the heat.

Thermal Stress.

The main reason for this disperses is the higher rate of driven current inside the bulb, even for a few seconds. Moreover, excessive heat because of higher electricity heats the bulb and causes an explosion.

On the other hand, this electricity stress or pressure may also cause a short circuit. However, the bulb will fuse but not explode in this condition. So, you can say that too much heat is the main reason the bulb fuses an immediate bang. However, you can overcome this issue by installing heat sinks or heat indulgence devices.

Inappropriate Light Sockets

Bulbs come with bases to fix in the light sockets. You must insert these bases in the sockets to save them from any issues.

Inappropriate Light Sockets

Choose bulbs and sockets with the same properties to save yourself from this issue. The imperfect socket passes the electricity directly to the bulb instead of the base.

It may overheat the bulb and explode it within no time. So you don’t have to face any difficulty fixing the sockets’ bulbs. All you need to do is fitting or screw the bulb in the correct size socket to eliminate all the bang issues.

Sudden Change In Voltage

The immediate change in the voltages is also known as a power surge. Even if the base of the electric bulb consists of insulation, it can pass a specific amount of electricity.

 Sudden Change In Voltage

But the overwhelming surpass of voltages during the power surge may cause bulb explosion. Remember that fluorescent bulbs are more prone to bangs in power surges because of Halogen’s presence in their infrastructure.

Moreover, the excessive power flow may heat the bulb’s filament. In the case of filament burning, the bulbs will explode immediately. So, overheating and power surges are the main issues behind the bulb’s expansions.

Oily Hand On The Sensitive Bulb’s Surface

Oily Hand On The Sensitive Bulb's Surface

Halogen is the central aspect that makes the fluorescent bulb sensitive to oily hands. If you have fixed the bulb in the socket with oily hands, the oil residues will remain on the surface. Well, this presence of oil on the incandescent bulbs will overheat and explode them horribly.

That’s why washing oily hands are better before placing or adjusting a bulb in the socket.

A Defective Light Bulb

If you buy the bulbs in large numbers, you may also have some defective bulbs. Unfortunately, an average person cannot understand the bulb’s inner parts, including filament, socket, and insulation material.

 A Defective Light Bulb

So, it would not be easy for you to detect the defective bulb. However, you can eliminate this issue by replacing the run-out bulb with a new piece.

Moreover, you can also test the bulbs while purchasing to save time and money. All you need to do is inspect the bulb to know about the defect and any other issues. Consequently, if it’s impossible to wash your hands, wear gloves and save the room from the bulb’s bang.

Tips To Maintain Or Keep Your Light Bulbs For A Long Span

Knowing the sorts of light bulbs that can start a fire is important as you study what makes a light bulb explode. The possibility that a longer-lasting LED bulb could start a fire is one of the most common myths. When lighting your home, familiarise yourself with all the electrical options.

 LED bulb could start a fire.

The amps and voltage on your refrigerator should also be checked, which is a terrific suggestion. To effectively prevent a fire from starting in your home, you must understand your appliances and what kind of electricity they require.

To ensure your appliances aren’t overwhelming the system, read the manufacturer’s written instructions on the amps for each one. Last but not least, if you have smart LED bulbs installed, you need to know how they operate. Your safety depends on your understanding of how to reset the smart bulbs.

If the smart bulbs are acting up and not interacting with their networks or applications properly, you don’t want to return home to a gloomy house.

Final Words

In short, a bulb explosion would be horrible or alarming in your home, especially under specific circumstances. That’s why working on the precautions mentioned above is better to save the bulbs and sockets from severe damage. You can inspect the bulb before installing it into the socket yourself or with the help of an expert. Professionals will surely help diagnose the issues and real causes behind the bulb explosion.

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Author: Amanda Arnold

Amanda has been working with ConstructionHow since 2021. Her experience spans over 5 years in the creative niche such as home decor and trends, landscaping, renovations, and custom architectural values. As a home designer expert, she has a keen eye for the latest home improvement trends with accurate facts that readers find impossible to ignore. Being invested in home-building trends is how she has gained her lucrative expertise exploring more to bring a positive ambiance for all homeowners (and even tenants!). Currently, she lives in a beautiful beach home, a source of fascination for her.

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