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If you’ve ever been shopping for light bulbs, you may have come across ‘appliance’ or ‘appliance-rated’ bulbs. It’s pretty clear that these are designed for use in appliances, but you may be wondering what the difference is between these bulbs and regular bulbs.
The difference between regular and appliance bulbs is that appliance bulbs are designed to withstand the extreme temperatures and conditions found in appliances. They have a stronger filament capable of withstanding vibrations and tend to be shatterproof too.
In the rest of this guide, we’ll take a look at some more questions you may have, and importantly, whether or not appliance and regular bulbs can ever be interchangeable.
Contents
Appliance Bulbs vs. Regular Bulbs
The difference between regular and appliance bulbs is that appliance bulbs are designed to withstand the extreme temperatures and conditions found in appliances. They have a stronger filament capable of withstanding vibrations and tend to be shatterproof too.
Appliance bulbs share the same bases as regular bulbs so you do need to be careful not to mix them up. A regular LED bulb with a standard E26 base will fit in an oven but the bulb will melt almost straight away. Not good!
The tougher construction of appliance bulbs mean they are more expensive than regular bulbs, but it’s something you really shouldn’t skimp out on, especially when it comes to hot appliances like ovens.
How Do I Know If a Bulb is Appliance-Rated?
An appliance bulb should be clearly labeled as such on the packet or the website if you buy online.
Not every appliance bulb is the same!
Make sure you check that the bulb you purshase it suitable for the appliance where it will be used. LED appliance bulbs are fairly common now, but these bulbs are not suitable for ovens. It should be made clear on the packet or website which appliances the bulbs are suitable for.
Are There LED Appliance Bulbs?
Yes. LED lights are becoming increasingly popular due to their energy efficiency and you can now puchase LED appliance bulbs.
LED bulbs are ideal for fridges since they operate well at lower temperatures. However, LED bulbs (even if appliance-rated) are not suitable for use in ovens at all.
There are LED bulbs suitable for freezers and some microwaves which we’ll talk about in the next section. There are also LED bulbs suitable for dryers.
Can Regular Bulbs Be Used in Any Appliances?
If you’ve had a bulb in an appliance stop working, you might be tempted to replace it with a regular bulb if you don’t have any appliance-rated bulb around the house.
For some appliances like ovens and microwaves this is a no-go. For others like refridgerators you can use a regular bulb but it’s better not too.
Below we’ll look at some common appliances and the types of bulbs you should and shouldn’t be using in them.
Quick note on replacing appliance bulbs:
Before purchasing a light bulb for any appliance, check the manual to ensure you install the correct size and wattage. Also, as previously mentioned, make sure the bulb is suitable for the specific appliance where it will be used (particularly for ovens and microwaves).
Ovens
No, regular bulbs cannot be used in an oven. Due to the high levels of heat, you need to use appliance bulbs in an oven. You also cannot use LED bulbs in an oven, even if they’re appliance rated. Before installing a new bulb in an oven, make sure to check the bulb is specifically designed for use in ovens.
Refridgerators
Yes but not recommended. A regular LED bulb will work in a refridgerator and the low temperature won’t cause any problems, but we don’t recommend it.
There are a couple of reasons to choose an appliance bulb for a refridgerator:
- Appliance bulbs are heavy duty: Whilst the cold temperature won’t be a problem for a regular bulb, taking a knock will be a problem. You don’t want to be clearing up a shattered bulb from your fridge!
- Appliance bulbs are smaller: Regular bulbs tend to have a size of A19 which is larger than the typical A15 appliance bulbs. A larger bulb is more likely to get in the way and may not even fit.
Freezers
Yes but not recommended. Like with a refridgerator, the cold temperature of a freezer won’t cause too much of a problem for a standard LED bulb. However, the below freezing temperatures of a freezer may reduce the lifespan of the bulb.
Many LED appliance bulbs are designed for use in freezers and can withstand below freezing temperatures.
So for this reason (and the reasons mentioned for refridgerators) you’ll be much better off purchasing an appliance-rated bulb for your freezer.
Microwaves
No, regular bulbs cannot be used in microwaves. You will need to purchase a bulb specifically designed for use in microwaves.
The good news is that you can use an LED bulb in many microwaves. This is because the light bulb is not situated in the main cavity of the microwave and is protected by a metallic mesh. So unlike in an oven, the LED bulb won’t get too hot.
However, it’s important to note that for some microwaves you cannot use an LED bulb. So make sure to check that it is suitable before installing one.
Dryers
No, regular bulbs cannot be used in dryers. You will need to purchase a bulb specifically designed for use in dryers.
A regular bulb is not designed to withstand the vibrations and movement of a dryer so you will need a bulb which is vibration resistant.
There are LED bulbs available that are suitable for use in dyers.
Can Appliance Bulbs Be Used in Lamps?
Yes. As long as the base has the correct fitting, you can use an appliance bulb in a lamp.
It is worth noting that appliance bulbs are more expensive than regular bulbs and won’t be as efficient.
If you can only find an appliance bulb lying around the house then by all means use it, but other than that, I would recommend sticking to a standard efficient LED bulb (link to our guide on light bulbs for desk lamps).
Final Thoughts
To wrap it up, the difference between a regular and appliance light bulb is that an appliance light bulb is heavy duty and designed to operate in extreme temperatures.
Whilst you can technically use a regular light bulb in a fridge or freezer, we advise purcashing a specifically designed appliance bulb.
For an oven, you must use an appliance bulb that is specifically designed for use in an oven. LED bulbs should never be used in an oven.
If you really want to, you can use an appliance bulb in a standard lamp, but since they are more expensive and less eficient, there’s no benefit in doing so.