Blowing Light Bulbs

Bob H

Over the years, I have run into numerous houses, which have a problem with light bulbs prematurely burning out. The problem is usually is limited to one circuit. There does not appear to be any problem with overloading or box overfill. The only thing that has helped is putting in bulbs rated for 130 volts. Anyone have any ideas on what could be causing the problem?

Electric_Light

High line voltage. Every 5% increase in line voltage halves the life. For Chandeliers and such where bulb replacement is particularly difficult, use a dimmer switch that does not hold the setting, so the light is ramped up and dim it just slightly below max.

The ramping significantly reduces the likelihood of the lamps going out with a flash when they're turned on. Dimming slightly below max significantly extends life. If you lower the voltage 5%, you double the life, lower 10%, you quadruple the life.

That circuit might simply not have any other load to lower the voltage the few percent. What's the line voltage?