> At a Glance
> – LED packages promising 7-10 years are averages, not guarantees
> – Heat, dirty power, old dimmers and humidity kill the fragile driver board-not the LED itself
> – Choosing enclosed-rated bulbs and LED dimmers can double real-world life
> Why it matters: Cutting premature burnouts saves money and keeps you off the ladder.
Those multi-year claims printed on LED boxes rarely match real life. While the diode can last decades, the tiny driver inside often fails early-leaving homeowners swapping bulbs every few months instead of every decade.
Why LED Life Numbers Mislead
Packaged lifetimes come from lab averages, not field promises. Companies may test with only two hours a day, so a seven-year claim can shrink to months under heavier use.
- Ratings assume ideal temperature and power quality
- Wording such as “up to seven years” weights the top 5% of test samples
- Incandescents still average just 800 hours, so LEDs should outlast them-unless other factors intervene
Heat Is Enemy Number One
Enclosed fixtures act like mini-ovens, cooking the solder joints that feed the diode. When heat has nowhere to escape, drivers fail long before the LED dims.
Thomas Grable of LEDvance explains that about 95% of bulbs fall within two standard deviations on a normal curve-meaning plenty die far sooner than the printed average.
Power, Humidity and Hardware Mismatches
- Dirty electricity with micro-spikes strains the converter
- High humidity accelerates corrosion of delicate circuitry
- Legacy dimmer switches designed for high-wattage incandescents confuse low-draw LEDs, causing early burnout
Poor installation-dirty sockets, loose or overtightened bases-can mimic dirty-power damage.
How to Buy Bulbs That Last
- Look for enclosed-fixture rated models with metal heat sinks
- Pair LEDs with LED-specific dimmers or app-controlled smart bulbs
- Stick with reputable brands that invest in robust drivers-Philips, Cree, Govee, Nanoleaf and Wiz tested well in News Of Los Angeles labs
Key Takeaways
- LED diodes rarely fail; cheap drivers do
- Heat from enclosed cans is the top killer
- Check for enclosed-space ratings and update old dimmers
- Buying recognized brands pays off in longevity
Choose the right bulb for the socket and the driver won’t sizzle-keeping the ladder in the garage for years instead of months.
