Properties with traditional incandescent fixtures on dimmers

Properties with traditional incandescent fixtures on dimmers

Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes

Fellow landlords, I am curious if you are doing anything about lighting fixtures inside your rental properties that use incandescent bulbs wired to traditional dimmers.

In my lease agreement, tenants are responsible to replace light bulbs as they go out.

Some of them buy and put in LED bulbs, and when they slide the dimmer switch up and down, they either don't dim, or flicker.  That's because these LED bulbs (or CFL) don't pair well with traditional dimmers.  So they complain...why can't I use LEDs?

I have a number of fixtures with this issue:

(1) Traditional bedroom ceiling light fixtures;

(2) Kitchen pendant lights;

(3) Banks of recessed lights;

(4) Ceiling fans with a light kit


Any suggestions?  Seems I have these options:

(A) Do nothing, keep insisting on incandescent bulbs if they want to use those fixtures.

(B) Investigate into replacing with LED compatible dimmers.  This is most likely going to be costly not only because I may not have a neutral conductor in the wall switch box, but also I may have a hard time finding replacements for the specific ceiling fan/light single gang combo switch that pair with the fan.

(C) Ask the tenant to buy LED bulbs that work with traditional dimmers, and live with the flickering or buzzing that may or may not occur at various light levels.

(D) Change out the dimmer switch to just ON/OFF switch.  No more dimming, no more problems.

(E) Give the tenant the option to use incandescent bulbs as originally intended, or you will solve the problem permanently and go with option (D).


Thoughts?

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  • Specialist · Riverside, CA · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y

    I would go with option D  or B if you really want dimmers, in my state you can't even get incandescent unless you really look for it, and whoever is paying the power bill will most certainly appreciate LED bulbs.  I have dimmers in my house and I never use them because I don't see a need.

  • Property Manager · Pittsburgh, PA · Member since 2012 · 267 posts · 136 votes
    8y

    You shouldn't spend this much time thinking about light bulbs.  Get rid of the dimmer!

  • Investor · Philadelphia, PA · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y
    Nowadays, even many of the $2 LED bulbs are dimmer compatible. Just let them know that they need to get dimmer-compatible bulbs - or just leave the dimmer at full! If it were me, I’d probably invest the $20 and replace the bulbs throughout with LED bulbs...
  • Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Mike McCarthy:
    Nowadays, even many of the $2 LED bulbs are dimmer compatible. Just let them know that they need to get dimmer-compatible bulbs - or just leave the dimmer at full!

    If it were me, I’d probably invest the $20 and replace the bulbs throughout with LED bulbs...

    It's a bit more complex than that.

    It depends on the fixture, the dimmer and the bulb.  In many cases they don't play well together...which is the reason for my questions.

    Some lamps manufacturers may boast that their dimmable LED lighting can be controlled using a standard traditional dimmer, in reality it is likely to be true only when some very narrow criteria are met. Standard dimmers will be underloaded in most LED applications, exacerbating flickering and strobing effects, which, in turn, can drastically shorten lamp life. Standard dimmers are also not equipped to exploit the full brightness range, resulting in a disappointing experience.

    The fundamental issue is there isn't a consistent solution.

    One can replace all fixtures with damnable LEDs, that may take care of 40% of the lights with dimmers.  The other 60% are lights that buzz, flicker or the min/max dim range is uselessly narrow, or fixtures with special bulb sockets that dimmable LED bulbs are not readily available.  Usually on full brightest on dimmable LED bulbs is when you get maximum flicker or buzz.

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