How long do LED recessed lights last?

LED recessed lights last a long time, often well over a decade of ordinary use. Good-quality ones are expected to run 30,000 to 50,000 hours or more before their light fades to 70% of new, and ENERGY STAR certified downlights must be rated for at least 25,000 hours. What ends their life is usually heat, failing electronics or a gradual fade, not a sudden burnout.

How LED life is measured

LEDs are rated differently from the bulbs they replaced. The useful life of an LED luminaire or lamp is typically described by the number of operating hours until it is emitting 70% of its initial light output.^[1] By that measure, the Department of Energy says: "Good-quality white LED lighting products are expected to have a useful life of 30,000 to 50,000 hours or even longer."^[1] For comparison, a typical incandescent lamp lasts about 1,000 hours and a comparable CFL 8,000 to 10,000 hours.^[1]

ENERGY STAR sets a floor for recessed fixtures: ENERGY STAR requires the LEDs in a certified downlight to meet an L70 rated life of at least 25,000 hours, measured in the fixture.^[3] L70 is the same 70% point.

Hours become years quickly. At three hours a day, 25,000 hours is more than 20 years; at eight hours a day in a kitchen, it is still more than eight.

LEDs fade rather than fail

Old bulbs went dark one day. LEDs typically do not burn out or fail. Instead they go through lumen depreciation, dimming slowly over time,^[2] and their rated lifetime is a prediction of when light output will have dropped by 30 percent.^[2] Because the fade is gradual, you may not notice it until one new light goes in beside old ones.

Two other things end an LED light's life:

The electronics. The DOE is direct about it: "The long life of the LED means that there is ample opportunity for the electronics to fail before the LEDs go bad."^[1] When a recessed LED goes dark suddenly, or starts flickering or buzzing, the driver is a common suspect.

Colour shift. All light sources change colour over time, and the DOE notes that the light's colour can shift over its long life, sometimes to an unacceptable degree before the LED fails.^[1] A row of lights that no longer match is a sign of age.

Heat is what shortens it

ENERGY STAR is blunt: "Thermal management is generally the single most important factor in the successful performance of an LED over its lifetime."^[2] And: "The higher the temperature at which the LEDs are operated, the more quickly the light will degrade, and the shorter the useful life will be."^[2]

For recessed lights, the heat question is what sits above the ceiling. If insulation will touch the fixture, it should be rated Type IC (insulation contact); fixtures that are not IC-rated usually need at least 3 inches of clearance to the nearest insulation to keep a proper operating temperature.^[4] An older can that is not IC-rated, with insulation packed around it, runs hotter than it was designed to. If you are adding attic insulation, have the fixtures checked first.

Bulbs, kits and built-in LEDs

How you replace a worn-out light depends on what kind it is.

A bulb in a can. Some recessed lights take an ordinary LED bulb. Use lightbulbs that match the recommended wattage on the lamp or fixture.^[6]

A retrofit kit. Retrofit kits replace the bulb and trim of an existing can with an LED light that screws into the existing socket,^[5] so a worn kit is replaced the same way.

Built-in LEDs. Some LED fixtures have the LEDs built in as a permanent light source.^[2] When they wear out, the whole fixture or module is replaced, which is electrical work. Virginia's building code says replacement of luminaires (lighting fixtures) needs no permit application in Groups R-3, R-4 and R-5, and in Group R-2 where serving a single dwelling unit,^[8] but no individual may engage in, or offer to engage in, work as a tradesman unless licensed,^[9] so someone you pay to swap a fixture needs an electrical licence. See whether you need an electrician to install a light fixture.

Getting the most from them

Buy certified fixtures and keep the paperwork. ENERGY STAR's downlight rules require a minimum 3-year warranty for products with replaceable drivers and a minimum 5-year warranty for products with non-replaceable drivers.^[3] A fixture with a replaceable driver can sometimes be repaired rather than replaced.

Match the dimmer to the lights. A mismatch shows up as flicker or buzzing; our answer on why LED bulbs flicker on a dimmer explains the fixes.

Keep the trims clean. With the light off and cool, a dry cloth on the trim and lens is usually enough. That is all the routine care an LED recessed light needs.

When to call a licensed pro

Not every failing light is just old. In its guidance on home wiring, the CPSC lists flickering lights, hot-to-the-touch switch plates, circuits that don't work and a smell of burning plastic at outlets or switches among the signs of electrical system problems.^[7] Call a licensed electrician when:

• A fixture flickers, buzzes or goes dark and a new bulb or kit does not fix it.
• A trim, switch or dimmer feels hot, or you smell burning or see scorch marks.
• Several lights fail early, or fixtures sit in insulation and you do not know their rating.
• You want to replace integrated LED fixtures or add more lights.

If you are planning new or replacement lights, our answers on adding recessed lighting and what it costs in Virginia cover the job.

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