Light Bulbs Blowing When Turned On? Know How to Fix

Wondering why are Light Bulbs blowing when turned ON? Stay with us!

Light bulbs produce artificial light in return for electricity from the lights fixture and when the bulb is inexpensive, after a couple of months they blow out.

This is normal as long as they last at least several weeks. In contrast, the most expensive Smart Bulbs last for years!

However, when the Bulb blows out when installed for the first time, there is a problem!

When Bulbs are blowing instantly when turned on, the issue is often related to spikes in voltages and excessive vibration. There is also a chance that the bulb is not correctly installed into the light’s socket or something is impacting the fixture!

Why Do Light Bulb Blows Out When Turned On?

This is one of the most frequently experienced problems, and it does happen a lot!

Nowadays, cheaper Bulbs are specifically tested by their suppliers to last for exactly as long as they’ve been pre-determined, so the users have to replace them.

However, the real problem occurs when bulbs start to blow out too frequently or every time they are turned on. 

Let’s learn more!

1. High Voltage

It is the most common cause of blowing lights. Whenever the bulb gets too much voltage at once there is a chance the bulb will blow out.

This happens when there are power fluctuations on the AC line or when the electricity kicks in after a power outage.

2. Overheated Bulb

Overheating can also decrease the lifespan of a bulb. The Light Bulb starts to overheat when used for a very long time at once and is exposed to excessive heat.

Incompatibility is also a common reason for overheating so make sure that the Bulb matches your Lights’ Fixture.

3. Excessive Vibration

If your bulb fixture is near the ceiling fan or any mechanical device, then due to its vibration, the fixture moves, and the bulb can blow out.

This rarely happens but it’s possible, especially for the fragile, cheaper bulbs that we find in every local store.

4. Loose Connection

Whenever a bulb is loosely attached to a fixture, heat is released, which leads to burnout and flickering.

This decreases the bulb’s lifespan and can blow anytime the light is turned on.

5. Cheap Bulb

It is very common for cheap bulbs to have very thin filaments that can break if the voltage changes even slightly.

Moreover, these kinds of bulbs are prone to breaking if they are moved.

Let’s next learn how to solve the Bulb-Blowing issue in a few minutes!

How To Fix When Light Bulbs Blowing When Turned On?

In this guide, the brand or type of your Light Bulb does not really matter since we’re going to focus mainly on the power income and lights’ socket/fixture.

We’re going to explore possibilities, one by one-by-one, and help you solve the problem in no time.

Let’s jump right in!

Solution #1 Install Surge Protector!

Mostly, light bulbs blow out due to the Spikes in AC Line Voltage. When the light voltage is too high or too low (fluctuating) the bulbs can blow when they are overdriven.

The Light Bulbs are made up of very sensitive components and most of them require a stable 120V power income!

To prevent power fluctuations, we’re going to learn how to install a Surge Protector!

Here is a way to install a Surge Protector at your home:

1. Turn OFF ALL Devices in your home.
2. Turn OFF the Power from the main circuit breaker.
3. Unscrew the Main Cover Panel of the Main Breaker.
4. Position the Surge Protector as close as possible to the Main Panel.
5. Hook up the offset nipple to the Surge Protector.
6. Secure the Surge Protector to the wall using screws.
7. Thread the SPD wire into the main panel.
8. The white wire is neutral and the Green wire is ground.
9. Use the nearest screws on the terminal for grounding.
10. Turn OFF the new breaker.
11. Connect the two black wires to the Surge Protector.

A Surge Protector guarantees no power fluctuations in your home to keep your devices secure from spikes in the voltage.

When you’re ready test whether the Light Bulbs will blow out when installed in a light fixture. Turn ON/OFF the lights several times to determine. If not, proceed.

Tip: Feeling unconfident? Seek professional help for Surge Protector installation!

Solution #2 Reduce The Exposure To Heat And Vibration

Excessive heat exposure and vibration gradually decrease the bulb’s lifespan.

Since the light bulbs are sensitive to a rapid change in temperature, users should always allow the bulb to climatize before turning the light on.

Let’s next learn more about how to preserve:

• Use a 120-volt Light Bulb to install into a Lights Fixture
• Choose a peaceful room without any vibration on the ceiling
• Avoid installing the Bulb in front of an Air Conditioning output or Fan
• Use low-wattage bulbs because these bulbs can produce less heat
• Avoid installing the Bulb to a heat conductor such as a fireplace!

Tip: Switching to LED lights will be the best possible investment for longer-lasting bulbs!

Solution #3 Inspect For Power Fluctuations

Now is the best time to switch to another light fixture to check whether the bulb will blow out when the light is turned on.

It’s important to determine whether the issue appears on ALL light fixtures in your home or only one of them. Use low-cost bulbs to perform the tests!

Follow the steps below to identify where the problem is coming from!

1. Turn OFF the power supply from the Main Breaker!
2. Check if ALL wires are properly fixed to the terminal. 
3. If yes, then then the problem could be related to the Lights Fixture.
4. Unscrew the fixture, and tighten the bulb and the fixture connectors.
5. Then place back the fixture and bulb.
6. Turn ON the power supply from the Main Breaker.
7. Use an Electric Multimeter and check the voltage of the Lights Socket. 
8. If there is a steady current, then replace the bulb that matches your voltage readings.

Based on your findings, you’ll be able to understand whether the problem comes from the Lights Fixture, Light Bulb, or your electrical installation. In case the issue persists, keep reading!

Alert: Inexperienced users should seek professional help when working with the AC-Line!

Solution #4 Clean The Light Bulb Socket

When the light bulb is used for a long time, then the dirt is collected around the fixture and where the Bulb screws into.

This sometimes contributes to producing excessive heat, especially on a bedroom lamp where the bulb is mostly covered. 

Here’s what to do:

• Unscrew the Light Bulb > Clean The Light’s Fixture > Wait to Dry!

When installing the Bulb back into its fixture, make sure that the light wouldn’t be too close to a wall or any material that conducts heat.

That should be enough to exclude this possibility!

Alert: Do NOT turn ON the bulb until the fixture is completely dry!

Solution #5 Replace The Bulb Or Fixture

Whenever the Light Bulb keeps blowing immediately when turned on, then, it’s strongly recommended to be cautious with this light’s fixture. 

Testing with a new bulb will tell us everything about the problem!

Perhaps the problem is in the Light Fixture and you would need to install a new one to solve the problem permanently.

0Otherwise, we strongly recommend LED Light Bulbs which lifetap is way longer in contrast to ordinary, cheap bulbs. A small investment makes all the difference!

However, if you do not want to use LED lighting, you should buy a bulb with Low Wattage and check to see if the fixture can accommodate the new bulb.

If not, you should also replace the fixture to avoid this problem harming more of your bulbs. Consult with a technician!

Note: Seek some professionals for the installment of the new fixture and LED bulb. 

Quick Recap:

To prevent blowing bulb problems by installing a Surge Protector at your home, and most importantly by replacing light bulbs with LED lights. If you’re not into LEDs make sure to purchase a Low-Wattage Bulb according to the fixture wattage!

Wrapping Up:

To prevent your Light Bulbs Blowing when turned ON, we have covered many methods in this troubleshooting guide.

To avoid any significant hazard, keep in mind to remove the blown bulb from the fixture as soon as possible. Good Luck!

In case you’ve made up your mind, purchase LED Light Bulbs for a long lifespan or a good Surge Protector to prevent your devices from being impacted by spikes in the voltage.