All of us use a variety of light fixtures in our everyday lives and probably don’t think about them until a problem occurs. Light bulbs and lamps have led to a lot of fires in homes and places of businesses throughout the world. However, as these scenarios are scarce and not reported often, we tend to neglect taking basic safety steps.
The main reason for light fixtures being a major cause of home fires is the light bulbs used inside them. It is important to note that not all lamps will catch on fire as there are many different types of bulbs. So while desk lamps can lead to a fire, it will depend on whether you are using the appropriate bulb or not.
Let’s take a deeper look into how some of them can become potential fire hazards and steps to ensure proper safety for you and your family.
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Can You Safely Leave a Desk Lamp on Overnight?
If you are using an incandescent or halogen bulb in the lamp, then you should not leave them on overnight or for elongated periods. All the above bulbs tend to overheat and this leads to nearby items catching on fire and unfortunately destroying entire houses.
Sometimes these bulbs are used due to ignorance whereas other times, an individual may only have access to them in their region.
Halogen bulbs, for instance, pose a very serious risk; yet are used in many homes in desk lamps. They provide great color temperature and therefore are used a lot for studying purposes.
So before you buy a bulb, you have to make sure that you only go for ones that are safe and efficient even if they cost a little bit more.
Why Are Incandescent Bulbs Dangerous to Use in Desk Lamps?
Though they are slowly getting phased out today, a lot of households still use incandescent bulbs in their desk lamps and other light fixtures.
One of the biggest reasons why they are dangerous is that they use filaments inside the vacuum-filled glass covering. As electricity passed through them, the filaments heat up and produce light.
The glass enclosure intensifies the light allowing it to spread to distant areas. However, these very same filaments can heat up to a shocking 4500 degrees Fahrenheit.
How Can Desk Lamps Catch on Fire If They Have a Glass Shell?
Incandescent bulbs tend to get heated up fast but they don’t reach extremely high temperatures very often. This is partly due to the glass shells and how incandescent bulbs work in general.
The glass shells are either vacuum-sealed or are filled with inert gases to prevent them from exploding from the inside. After all, without oxygen, fire cant burn.
However, as per statistics, these bulbs are one of the leading causes of domestic fires. This is because of primarily three reasons.
- If these bulbs are left on for a long time or unattended, the temperature inside might rise to extremely high levels – This extreme temperature can cause the glass shell to crack, thereby removing the layer of protection. Without the glass shell, the filament can easily set fire to nearby objects such as curtains, placemats, and anything combustible.
- Another main reason is the use of defective bulbs – Not all bulbs come with the same level of quality. Some of them might have small cracks on the shell during transportation. As some of these cracks may be very small, people might not see these bulbs as defective and continue to use them. These small cracks over time will become bigger and eventually break.
- Nearby flammable objects – You also have a serious risk on your hands if your incandescent desk lamp has cloth or paper near the glass shell as they may catch on fire.
Are Desk Lamps with Halogen Bulbs More Dangerous vs LED and Incandescent Bulbs?
Yes, they are. Despite its popularity, halogen lamps are very dangerous to use in desk lamps. They may explode once its expected lifetime is over. So if you are using one, make sure you know whether it is past its lifetime or not.
They don’t get as heated as incandescent bulbs or LEDs, but they have been found out to explode when used continuously for many hours.
They may provide a vibrant and bright light, but are very dangerous to use in desk lamps due to their potential proximity to flammable objects on your desk.
Are CFL Desk Lamps Dangerous to Use Too?
CFL desk lamps are relatively safer to use than incandescent or halogen lamps as they don’t get to very high temperatures. However, there is still a risk of it becoming a potential fire hazard.
Unlike the other two bulbs, CFL bulbs pose a danger mostly when the bulb itself is defective as it won’t be able to handle the electricity coursing through it.
Tips to Avoid Overheating in Incandescent and Halogen Lamps
The best way to avoid these dangerous risks is to get an LED bulb as they are not only extremely safe but also very efficient when it comes to illumination and power consumption.
The only risk they pose is if there is any faulty wiring but that can be said for just about any electrical appliance.
If you already have incandescent or halogen desk lamps in your home and don’t want to throw them just yet, then here are some tips to follow.
- Never overuse your incandescent or halogen lamps – Always make it a point to turn them off periodically for some time such as every two hours or so. Once it is turned off, keep it that way until the bulbs cool down. They should cool down in about 5 to 10 minutes, so it’s not that much of an inconvenience.
- Always check the bulb for any cracks – If there are cracks, throw them away and buy an LED bulb instead. These bulbs get very hot when turned on, so make sure you check for cracks only when the bulb has been turned off for an hour or so.
- If the bulbs start flickering or if you hear them buzzing, it’s a sign that there is an issue – Throw away the bulb before it explodes or catches on fire. Most incandescent bulbs have a lifetime of 1500 to 2000 hours whereas halogen bulbs can last up to 2000 or 2500 hours. If you don’t know the exact numbers, look up your bulb online to find the exact lifetime.
Conclusion
No light fixture is prone to any serious risks of catching on fire unless the wrong type of bulb is being used. The risk of having a desk lamp with an incandescent, halogen, or CFL bulb in it is quite high as these lamps are usually placed near us and on a table with other objects nearby.
As a general rule of thumb, no matter what bulb you use, turn them off when you don’t need them. Using LED bulbs in desk lamps might not pose any threat even with prolonged use, but why take the risk? Moreover, they will also consume more electricity and increase your power bills.
Once you make it a habit to turn them off when not needed, you can significantly reduce any potential issues and extend the longevity of the bulbs.