More so than you might think, the best light bulbs for ceiling fans are important. Your health and the atmosphere at home can be negatively impacted by lightning in the living areas. Lights that flicker frequently can cause severe headaches and strain on the eyes. You’ll need some attractive light bulbs to help alleviate this problem by enhancing the fan’s aesthetic appeal. LEDs can change the atmosphere of your space and uplift your mood. They barely flicker, which lowers the risk of headaches and eye strain. You are in the right place if you intend to purchase LEDs. They enhance the fan’s appearance and are aesthetically pleasing. Additionally, they give your living room a fantastic flavor and spark. We’ve provided a list of light bulbs you might consider purchasing for your fans. Read on to know more.
Two ways to get more light out of your candelabra ceiling fan
Switching to LED ceiling fan bulbs is a simple workaround for getting brighter light from the candelabra light fixture in your ceiling fan because LED bulbs use less wattage than conventional incandescent bulbs. This indicates that you can increase the light output without exceeding the 190 watt regulation set by the industry. If your ceiling fan currently uses conventional 40W incandescent candelabra bulbs, switching to a 60W LED equivalent is a simple way to increase the amount of light it produces while also saving money on energy costs due to the lower wattage.
Why do ceiling fans use candelabra bulbs?
The story begins in 2005 when President George W. Bush signed into law the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The act gave tax incentives to entities who followed new energy conservation and efficiency standards. One provision in particular limited socket type lighting to 190 watts or less in order to conserve energy. For many ceiling fan manufacturers at the time, switching to low-watt incandescent bulbs was a sure way to keep the total wattage of the light kit under 190 watts to meet the new standard. This regulation began the introduction of candelabra bulbs and wattage regulators in ceiling fans.
However, the story does not end there. In 2007, the Energy Independence and Security Act (PDF) was signed into law which brought even more changes. The purpose of the act was to increase industry-wide energy efficiency standards and “move the United States toward greater energy independence and security.” [Wikipedia]
One change the act commanded was that medium base 60-watt incandescent bulbs needed to be 25% more energy efficient Retailers and manufacturers were forced to offer consumers more energy-efficient alternatives after it became illegal to sell or import 60-watt incandescent bulbs. In January 2014, this section of the Energy Independence and Security Act became effective.
In response to the ban on 60-watt incandescent light bulbs, many ceiling fan manufacturers switched to a completely different size light bulb. An alternative to the medium base incandescent used in older ceiling fans is the candelabra bulb. This brings us to the present, when the majority of ceiling fan models that still use incandescent bulbs choose to use smaller candelabra-sized bulbs in order to adhere to the 190-watt regulation and the 2007 energy efficiency standards.
Switching to a different type of bulb
There is a way to switch to a different type of bulb without sacrificing energy efficiency or light levels if you want to install a ceiling fan in your house but really dislike the style or design of candelabra bulbs.
Use a candelabra to medium base adapter to accomplish this. These are very simple to install; you just screw them in where your candelabra bulbs would normally go. Once it is installed, you can use regular household bulbs or a particularly decorative bulb you find that goes with your interior design theme.
But keep in mind that your ceiling fan will likely still have a regulated wattage of 190 even if you decide to switch from candelabra to regular bulbs with the aid of an adapter. Therefore, you must follow these guidelines even when using an adapter. If you’re looking to replace the bulbs in your ceiling fans, check out our guide to the best LED bulbs.