Based on a usage of eight hours a day, a bulb should last roughly about four months.

Here’s why light bulbs burning out quickly should be investigated and fixed quickly.

The lifespan of a bulb turned on and off frequently is shortened versus one that’s on somewhat continuously.

person screwing in a light bulb

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Test for voltage at a standard (120-volt) electrical outlet, using amultimeter or a voltage tester.

Ensure you know how to do this safely because the power will be on.

Excessive Fixture Vibration

Excessive fixture vibration can cause bulbs to burn out.

lamp with a new light bulb

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

A good example of this is a ceiling fan with a light fixture.

The same problem is common with light bulbs in garage door openers.

Consider a rough-service bulb with heavy-duty filaments that withstand vibrations better.

fixture vibration can lead to bulbs burning out

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Then screw the bulb back in and see if it works.

Use caution in old sockets where the metal tab is brittle or has lost its spring entirely.

In this case, the best solution is toreplace the light bulb socketor the entire light fixture.

potentially depressed socket tab

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Loose Connections

When a bulb is loose in the socket, it canflicker on and off.

Tightening the bulb in its socket may correct the problem.

Another issue may be a loose wire connection where the circuit wires connect to the fixture.

assortment of light bulbs

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

The bulb socket can also have worn or corroded contacts that cause connection problems.

In this case, replace the socket or the fixture.

Short circuits occur when the electrical current flows outside the established wiring pathway.

tightening the bulb into its fixture

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

This causes resistance to lessen and vastly increases the flow of current through the circuit.

The light bulb (and everything else) suddenly goes dark.

Replace defective parts before resetting the breaker or replacing a fuse.

circuit breaker

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

initiate the fixture’s globe or cover and check to see the correct bulb wattage.

Overheated recessed lights can potentially lead to a fire.

If your fixture is not rated “IC,” it should not be covered with insulation.

wattage label on light fixture

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Some recessed light fixtures are designed to be covered withattic insulation.

Build a box (chase) around the fixture housing to allow for the appropriate space around the fixture.

Or, install a new IC-rated fixture that will tolerate contact with insulation.

recessed lighting

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Older dimmer switches were designed for use with standard incandescent bulbs only.

There are many reasons an LED bulb does not last long.

LED bulbs have the longest lifespan, from 25,000 to 100,000 hours, depending on their usage.

dimmer switch

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Generally, LED bulbs last 25% longer than incandescent bulbs.

A bad LED light bulb will dim or change color over time, indicating it needs to be changed.

LED bulbs do not technically burn out.