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Warm spot on floor above recessed basement light - safe?
I just bought a new house and for the first time have a finished basement. There are two recessed lights in the basement ceiling, and I've noticed that on the main floor, the floor above where the lights are is warm. Not hot: just a bit warmer than the surrounding floor.
Is this normal, or is this something to be concerned about? I am intending to call an electrician to do some minor work, but should I get him in early to look at this? Thank you!
I will open up the fixture and see what's there. I do have CFLs - I just don't know which box they're in right now. Moving is such joy :-)
Ah, and the bulb looks to be fine. Thank you!
2 Answers
- Richard SLv 61 decade agoFavorite Answer
Dear the_devi...
I believe that you have a non-problem - UNLESS there are bulbs in the fixture which greatly exceed the fixtures maximum rating. I'm saying to lower the lens, remove the bulb, check the bulb's wattage - and compare that wattage to to the "Maximum Safe Wattage" sticker usually found inside the "can" of a recessed light fixture.
You know that light bulbs produce heat. If they're left on long enough they HAVE to warm their surroundings... but things have to really be wrong for a light bulb to heat its surroundings enough for them to ignite.
If your concern continues: Consider changing the bulbs to the equivalent light-output compact fluorescent bulbs: Their price has come way down - and they'll pay for their initial cost several times by their energy savings and their long life.
Richard
- HyperDogLv 71 decade ago
Most fixtures have a maximum wattage for incandescent bulbs printed somewhere inside the can - you might need to remove the bulb and use a flashlight to see it.
Also, is the lamp a reflector style? That can affect the maximum wattage as well - reflectors focus more of the heat down and out of the can, whereas a conventional incandescent bulb will tend to heat the enclosure more.
If you really want to eliminate the heating, use a compact fluorescent bulb.
