Lighting the inside of the garage is just as important as lighting the inside of the home. A family may not spend the majority of their time in the garage, but the area does serve a purpose. Several purposes, if the truth be known. Vehicles are parked inside the garage. Vehicles and objects can be repaired and hobbies can be mastered. With the right type of lighting almost any task can be performed.
Which Type of Garage Door Light Bulb Is Needed
The type of fixtures in the garage will determine what type of light bulb is needed. The majority of fixtures that fit “screw in” type bulbs will take almost any bulb that is made to fit that type of outlet. There are different sizes of outlets, however, so when purchasing bulbs check the box to see what size base the new bulb has. Certain recessed lighting fixtures, especially the ones designed to fit in cabinets, take bulbs that have a smaller than normal base. Garage door light bulbs come in a variety of sizes and watts. It’s up to you to decide which ones best suit your purpose.
Incandescent Bulbs
Prior to the invention of the energy saving, fluorescent swirl light bulbs, incandescent bulbs were primarily used. Due to the popularity and efficiency of their fluorescent counterparts, incandescent bulbs are slowly being phased out of production. Although they can still be found, they are not in great demand. They are given a poor rating when it comes to saving energy and burn out much faster than other types of light bulbs.
Fluorescent Bulbs
For years, the only type of fluorescent bulbs were long and primarily found in commercial buildings. That has all changed. No longer are ballasts needed to enjoy the brighter, more energy efficient light offered by fluorescent bulbs. The longer bulbs are still in use because they illuminate large areas. They make excellent garage light bulbs because they can be placed in the center of the ceiling and light up the entire area. Smaller versions can be used as garage door lights if they will fit inside the casing.
The long fluorescent bulbs come in several lengths ranging from 6 inches to 8 feet depending on the amount of area that needs to be lit up. In large garages, industrial size fluorescent lights can be purchased. Home improvement and retail stored normally only carry the size of bulbs that fit into the fixtures they sell. If a larger bulb is needed, they may have to be special ordered from an company that sells industrial size fixtures and lighting systems.
Most fluorescent swirl bulbs will fit in light fixtures that are universal in size. The only thing that needs to be determined is how much light is needed and whether or not another fixture has to be installed. When buying long fluorescent bulbs, the bulb itself may have to be measured to make sure the right size is being purchased or ordered. If the correct size still cannot be determined, measure the outside of the ballast as well as the bulb and take the measurements to a hard ware store or other retail store that sells fluorescent bulbs. Bulbs are mostly sold according to their length, but in some cases, the size of the ballast is required.
LED Light Bulbs
LED garage door light bulbs are fast becoming the most popular of all the different types of light bulbs on the market. Not only are they extremely energy efficient, they are also environmentally friendly. They are not made with toxic components such as mercury and lead, like other types of bulbs. LED bulbs are also brighter than other types of bulbs. They put out much more light per watt, using less energy than ever before.
LED garage light bulbs are designed to last longer than other types of bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs can last anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 hours. LED lamps exceed those numbers dramatically. Their longer life span means less waste and lower replacement costs. An LED lamp can be used almost anywhere direct, bright light is needed. Because of their intensity, they make ideal lights for areas where precise actions are performed. When used in a garage door opener, they can provide ample light and do not require a “warm up” period like some type of fluorescent bulbs.
When choosing light bulbs for a garage, it is always important to keep in mind where the bulb will be used and what it will be used for. Brighter lights will be needed when lighting larger areas or when precision is required. Lower wattage light bulbs will work in confined areas such as cabinets or recessed spaces where furnaces and water heaters set. If renovations are being considered, it is important to know what type of lighting will be needed in each area. This will give the homeowner an idea as to how hard it may be to find specific types of light bulbs and also, how expensive it will be to replace the bulbs as they burn out or if they are damaged.
