07/19/2023
Are you finally ready to change out all of your ceiling light fixtures to LED? The flush mounted retrofit ceiling lights are less expensive than the old fluorescent can lights you may still have. The advantages include having a choice of Kelvin colors from softer warm to brighter cool ( usually 2,500 to 4,000 Kelvin) and the knowledge that you won’t have to be getting up on the ladder to change the bulbs for many years to come. Just switching the fluorescent bulbs (spots and floods) to LED’s is not as reliable as removing the entire can light and installing a new flush mount with integral light.
It’s a different story when it comes to garage and closet fluorescent tube lights. The best solution is to have an electrician bypass the ballast and install an LED tube. They do have ones that are adaptable to all sizes from T8 (the skinny ones) to T10’s and T12’s ( the wider ones).
These are becoming more widely available and Lowes, Home Depot, Walmart and Amazon are starting to carry them in 2 ft., 4ft., and 8 ft. sizes. The most common color selection for these is “cool white” which translates roughly to 4,000 Kelvin depending on brand. Some manufacturers also carry a warm white which translates roughly to 2,500 Kelvin.
I have managed the transition from florescent to LED on several homes in Dallas this year. The average cost of labor and materials for a 3,500 sq.ft. home runs between $$2,500 to $3,500. This includes having all the work done by a licensed electrician.
In addition to the added brightness in your home and the fact that you won’t be needing to climb up on the ladder to change bulbs anytime soon, you can expect an average energy savings of at least 75 to 90 percent according to the Department of Energy.
