# How many people have a small stash of incandescent bulbs? Can't buy them anymore. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 10, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942 "2014-02-10T02:45:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/41 "2014-02-10T15:53:05Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > What also soured me on CFL’s was trying to properly dispose of a dead one. This happened several years ago in Fresno: I couldn’t find a way to properly get rid of it, except the city ran a recycling dump of some sort. The problem: It was open to the public only two weekends a year, and I had just missed the most recent of those, AND they required I call ahead and make an appointment. :smack: Just to dispose of ONE lousy stinkin CFL? currently in the USA i think if a store sells CFL they will also dispose of them properly. stores will have a bin in the entrance often. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/42 "2014-02-10T16:01:03Z")
Non-incandescents are banned in my household. I’m waiting for the Lightbulb Renaissance and the return to True Lighting, the way Og intended. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/43 "2014-02-10T16:29:58Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > currently in the USA i think if a store sells CFL they will also dispose of them properly. stores will have a bin in the entrance often. Not even close to true. There are groups trying to pressure companies to do so, but as far as I can find only Ikea and Home Depot have recycling programs. The closest Ikea store is 343 miles away. The closes Home Depot is 63 miles away. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/44 "2014-02-10T16:31:46Z")
I have some but have not stockpiled them. I dislike CF, and have removed most of them that I once switched to. (short story, switched almost every one from IC to CF, then blew a CF bulb and only had a IC replacement, almost cried as the light was so much better, switched almost all back to IC). Recently got 2 Cree LED’s to try out, I have noticed some eye strain / slightly nauseous related to the bulbs, perhaps flicker. But a light strip of LED’s over my work desk doesn’t cause this, so perhaps that brand of LED is bad for me. That leads to the issue that now brand is important, which complicate the matter. Not concerned as halogen is available, I’ve used them in the past and they work well for me, and also stores do seem to still have a lot of plain IC’s left. Perhaps if I get a chance I’ll pickup some extra. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/45 "2014-02-10T16:56:00Z")
We wanted to like CFLs, and installed quite a few…but they keep burning out on us. I know they’re supposed to last a long time, but in only a few years we piled up a box of dead ones. And then we had the hazardous disposal issue. We find ourselves MUCH happier with LEDs. Less energy usage, they don’t break, they don’t burn out (so far), non-hazardous. We are in the process of replacing each incandescent and CFL with an LED bulb as it burns out. Shouldn’t take long. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/46 "2014-02-10T17:15:05Z")
> [@Sailboat](#): > > We wanted to like CFLs, and installed quite a few…but they keep burning out on us. I know they’re supposed to last a long time, but in only a few years we piled up a box of dead ones. And then we had the hazardous disposal issue. > > We find ourselves MUCH happier with LEDs. Less energy usage, they don’t break, they don’t burn out (so far), non-hazardous. We are in the process of replacing each incandescent and CFL with an LED bulb as it burns out. Shouldn’t take long. That pretty much matches our experience. I think the problem for those who don’t get the increased lifespan we’re “supposed” to get is that the tests are done under carefully controlled conditions, and we don’t live under controlled conditions, we live in the real world, where conditions can vary greatly. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/47 "2014-02-10T17:23:41Z")
I have a bunch in storage, but only because the utility company sent someone over when we bought our house a couple of years ago who replaced every single bulb in the house (except appliance lights) with CFLs. He packed the incandescents up and put them in storage. I have no plans to use them, unless we find out that there is something harmful in CFLs or LEDs. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/48 "2014-02-10T17:38:51Z")
> [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I have a bunch in storage, but only because the utility company sent someone over when we bought our house a couple of years ago who replaced every single bulb in the house (except appliance lights) with CFLs. He packed the incandescents up and put them in storage. I have no plans to use them, unless we find out that there is something harmful in CFLs or LEDs. No need to wait. We already know there’s mercury in CFLs. They have to be treated as hazardous waste. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/49 "2014-02-10T18:39:30Z")
What country are you in? I can’t imagine a utility company doing that. They make money selling electricity and could care less how efficient anything in your house is. I’ve been debating about replacing my refrigerator that was bought in 89. My cousin warned me the new ones don’t last nearly as long. She made the mistake of giving away her refrigerator she bought in 1980. That original 34 year old fridge is still happily running inside a friends garage. She’s had two replacements fail since 1990. The new appliances are crap compared to what was sold iwhen I was a kid. The only good thing about a new appliance is energy efficiency. > [@Mighty\_Mouse](#): > > I have a bunch in storage, but only because the utility company sent someone over when we bought our house a couple of years ago who replaced every single bulb in the house (except appliance lights) with CFLs. He packed the incandescents up and put them in storage. I have no plans to use them, unless we find out that there is something harmful in CFLs or LEDs. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/50 "2014-02-10T18:45:38Z")
they may offer a cheaper rate for homes lit with more efficient lighting. utilities have offered rebates on CFL and LED bulbs because it saves energy. this lessens the need for them to build, expand or upgrade their power generation capacity, a costly and slow process. they also can incentivise appliances. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/51 "2014-02-10T18:48:06Z")
I like the CFLs. I didn’t at first, but they seem to have gotten much better and I can’t justify using incandescents. About the only think I prefer the old style for is their quicker power-on. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/52 "2014-02-10T18:50:09Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > What country are you in? I can’t imagine a utility company doing that. They make money selling electricity and could care less how efficient anything in your house is. > . My utility gave me a $750 check for installing highly efficient heat pumps to replace my old ones. They certainly do care. I’m in the USA. ---
**Author:** ![Orionizer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orionizer/32/4442_2.png) [@Orionizer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orionizer)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/53 "2014-02-10T18:55:03Z")
I have a question - I have an overhead fan/lamp unit that I tried a CFL in, but it just flashed on/off/on/off/on/off. Put an incandescent in and everything was fine. What do you do about something like that? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/54 "2014-02-10T19:06:45Z")
Sounds like the CFL was over heating. They will shut off if they get too hot. Several people have mentioned halogen incandescent which are still sold and do meet the new energy savings requirements. They aren’t too expensive. $1.70 a 4 pack at Amazon is $6.99 which isn’t bad at all. these are the clear which would work great in fans > **[GE Halogen 72 Watt Incandescent Replacement Bulbs - 4 pk. - - Amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com/GE-Halogen-Incandescent-Replacement-Bulbs/dp/B008O0LBI8)** > > GE Halogen 72 Watt Incandescent Replacement Bulbs - 4 pk. - - Amazon.com ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/55 "2014-02-10T19:22:16Z")
If you have one of those fans that hold 4 bulbs then you’d want a small watt bulb. I have two ceiling fans with the 4 bulb lights. We stopped buying the decorative Candelabra bulbs over 15 years ago. We use regular 40 watt bulbs in them now. these are halogen and equivalent to 40w. but only use 28Watt > **[Amazon.com: SYLVANIA Halogen Light Bulb, A19, 60W Equivalent, Efficient 43W, 610...](https://www.amazon.com/SYLVANIA-Halogen-Equivalent-Efficient-Lumens/dp/B00A282UNK)** > > Buy SYLVANIA Halogen Light Bulb, A19, 60W Equivalent, Efficient 43W, 610 Lumens, Medium Base, 2750K, Soft White - 4 Pack (50046): Everything Else - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/56 "2014-02-10T20:09:31Z")
I have a bunch, but only because I switched over to CFLs decades ago, and I’ve had these left over ever since. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/57 "2014-02-10T20:17:33Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > utilities have offered rebates on CFL and LED bulbs because it saves energy. this lessens the need for them to build, expand or upgrade their power generation capacity, a costly and slow process. My utility just sent out a catalog of subsidized products, and 100w equivalent CFL’s are $.20 each. 20 cents! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/58 "2014-02-10T20:27:13Z")
Why stockpile a inferior product that wastes power & money? I get cheap CFLs now & then, and if you shop around, you can also find LED’s at good prices. Yeah, I know, once in a while you could buy cheap incandescents 4/$1. But their normal non-sale price is more than the sale price of CLF’s. When you factor in life and power, LED’s are even cheaper. Other than a couple of small-base fixtures, etc. we use no outmoded incandescent bulbs in the house. I can’t afford those “cheap bulbs”. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/59 "2014-02-10T20:31:57Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Why stockpile a inferior product that wastes power & money? > > I get cheap CFLs now & then, and if you shop around, you can also find LED’s at good prices. > > Yeah, I know, once in a while you could buy cheap incandescents 4/$1. But their normal non-sale price is more than the sale price of CLF’s. When you factor in life and power, LED’s are even cheaper. > > Other than a couple of small-base fixtures, etc. we use no outmoded incandescent bulbs in the house. I can’t afford those “cheap bulbs”. I think it’s a matter of what’s important to you. I prefer fast-on, flicker-free, decent light, and it is well worth it to me to pay the trivial amount more in electricity bills that comes with it. Other people’s mileage will certainly vary. That’s what’s so great about freedom of choice. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2014, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942/60 "2014-02-10T20:33:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Why stockpile a inferior product that wastes power & money? > > I get cheap CFLs now & then, and if you shop around, you can also find LED’s at good prices. > > Yeah, I know, once in a while you could buy cheap incandescents 4/$1. But their normal non-sale price is more than the sale price of CLF’s. When you factor in life and power, LED’s are even cheaper. > > Other than a couple of small-base fixtures, etc. we use no outmoded incandescent bulbs in the house. I can’t afford those “cheap bulbs”. Huh? I normally buy incandescents regular price 4/$1.25. Used to be 4/$1.00 until a few months ago. The lowest sale price for CFLs I’ve ever seen was 1/$4.99. And on average I get the same life out of incandescents as CFLs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-people-have-a-small-stash-of-incandescent-bulbs-cant-buy-them-anymore/680942.md?page=4)