Why do the light bulbs in my house keep blowing when I turn them on? They don't last more than a couple of months, Halogen and standard bulbs. To make matters worse, when one is about to blow, I know it just before I flick on the switch!

Rick Knight, November 2004

I've had cheap bulbs last a lot longer than 3months. But hallogen! I think it's because the burn at higher tempratures than standard bulbs. Odd ones on my kitchen hallogen spots blow about 1 every 3 months. It's not always 'You get what you pay for' I've bought dear hallogens and they've still blown. You could ask for advice from your electricity suppler. the well known ones have websites. I have come across standard bulbs that have only lasted for about 20 days but they might have been a bad batch as the next lot I bought they laste 3months.

bob

bob, January 2005

I'll repeat some of a previous answer, inasmuch as we had a similar problem using manufacturer Ring bulbs. They'd last only a day or two regularly, sometimes not even that. When we changed to a more expensive type, they were fine. Can't answer though for the halogen bulbs. Seems it's the same with everything in this life, you get what you pay for.

flatcat15....Denis Langley, January 2005

the reason light bulbs fail on switch on is because the sudden temperature rise from room temperature to over 100c in a second causes the glass "bulb" to crack - letting in air and burning out the element. its a common fault with certain makes of light bulbs-try longlife energy saving bulbs -but dont turn them on and off repeatedly. they are so cheap to run you can leave them on all day. they need 5 mins. to get up to full lighting power.

GarryF, January 2005

I have the same problem - I heard it could be just cheap bulbs. However I'm not fortunate enough to be a ble to predict the event. Any idea of next weeks lottery numbers ?

Graeme, December 2004