I'd like to help but I have no idea. Maybe you could google "types of light bulbs appropriate for ceiling cans" Sorry.

I'm not a big fan of CFLs in most situations (though they do have 'instant on' options now so you don't have to wait so long for the bulbs to light fully). However, I put new halogen bulbs (which look just like our familiar old tungsten bulbs) in my kitchen ceiling fixtures and love them so far. Not as much energy savings as CFLs, but really nice light, and they work with dimmers (only certain, specifically-labelled CFLs only work with dimmers, and they're pricey).

Here is a link that might be useful: GE general purpose halogen light bulbs

Are you referring to the LED bulbs? I still use the typical incandescent floodlights since I don't like the shape of some of the new ones.

I looked at some LED bulbsfor outside the other day, but the store wanted $17 per bulb! Online they're $11 and I hope to find even better prices.
I'm just thankful the rules that would have banned incandescent were overturned!

I live in oz and the incandescents were taken off the shelves about 5 years ago so you can't buy them anymore here. I haven't had any problems with the CFLs in my 1960s house with old light fittings as light bulb replacements but I have had issues where we had dimmers because I haven't found CFLs that are compatible. We ended up just having the dimmer switches removed because they would make the lights buzz or flicker and I suspected the CFLs would also blow from the inconsistent wattage. If you can find CFLs that say they are compatible with dimmers then you should be fine with those. The CFLs aren't full on bright until they warm up so you always have dim light at first so they are a bit different and the wattages are much lower than with the incandescents

Thanks, all, for your helpful and thoughtful replies.

Yayagal, I appreciate the suggestion. I've done quite a bit of googling but am finding mostly negative reviews of CFLs in particular, so it occurred to me that there might be folks here who have found something they like.

Jessica, I've wondered about halogens but haven't known how to determine if they're safe for these older fixtures. Good to know they're a nice solution in your spot. I think yours might look funny in our cans, though, as we have the larger cans that seem to call for a bulb with a broader, flatter face (for lack of proper term!) I've found mostly negative reviews of dimmable CFLs online so am leery of buying them given their high cost (as you note).

Annz, I don't think I'm referring to LEDs. I can't imagine they'd be suitable for the kind of light we need...?

Trance, I have to ask -- where is it that you live?! I know that incandescents are taking up less and less shelf space in our local stores. I've read about those bugs with the CFLs. Thanks for noting your experience.

I may just try something from Costco, knowing that I can always return it. I've noticed they had "new" bulbs but hadn't had the time or the motivation to read all the packages. I don't mind investing in something expensive with a long life, but hate to gamble on an unknown.

Thanks again, everybody.

You can still buy R-type bulbs for cans.

Natal, thank you. I thought they were being phased out.

Annz, I don't think I'm referring to LEDs. I can't imagine they'd be suitable for the kind of light we need...?

I think you'd be surprised at the gorgeous white light of some LEDs now.

I just bought an LED bulb for one of my lamps today...$17!!! I just wanted to try it. I've been using CFL bulbs in my outdoor lights for a few years now. You have to be sure you find the ones that are made for outdoors. It's a joy to save on electricity, but more importantly to not have to change the bulbs very often. I would say they last two - three years burning every day for eight hours or so.

So true greenthumb! LED lights come in all shapes and sizes now and you buy them based on the type and pattern of light you need.
Shop around for prices.

Here is a link that might be useful: LED lights

Hmmm, didn't know that about LED lights. I thought they all had a bluish hue (as mentioned on an outdoor lighting thread recently). Another useful bit of information. Thanks!

Hi,

Check the lighting forum. Lots of threads with info about bulbs, change-outs, etc. Hope that helps!

Here is a link that might be useful: lighting info

I have LEDs in can lights in my kitchen and my basement. We used different bulbs in the kitchen and basement and we love them both. I am going to assume that you looked at the lighting thread posted by beausrose to get some background. They are both really easy to install and there are some measurements you can take to see if they will fit your cans.

We used the more expensive Cree brand LR6 model in the kitchen, the warm 2700k ones. They cost around $78 each now (they were closer to $90 each when we put ours in 2 years ago). They are very bright, cast a nice light and are not glaring to look at even when looked at directly. They are dimmable to about 25%, which is fine for us, but not dimmable enough for some. We have not had any trouble with these lights in the 2 years that they have been installed.

We used the Home Depot EcoSmart ones in the basement, again in the warm 2700k color. These are about $40 each and are made by Cree and re-branded by Home Depot. Home Depot sells individual bulbs in their stores and 4-packs online that are a little cheaper per bulb. Home Depot also had a $5 off coupon, so google to see if there is a coupon you can use (this coupon was for Father's Day). We just put these in about a month ago and they are great. They are not as bright as the Cree brand ones but dim more. The Home Depot ones are guaranteed for 3 years I think, and the Cree brand for 5 years.

The LEDs are expensive, that's for sure. But I got tired of replacing the flood lights that only seemed to last about 6 months, and they cost $3 each which adds up over time. I had never heard of the Cree brand before, but I found in my investigations that they are a very well respected brand when it comes to LED replacement bulbs.

Good luck. I think that if you decide to invest in the LEDs, you won't be disappointed.

Pudgy, those prices are ridiculous! I'm glad we don't use our cans much. Have had the same incandescent floods for 5 years now.

beausrose and pudgy, thank you for all the additional information. The prices are crazy, so I don't want to make a poor choice. Appreciate your help.

"I thought they were being phased out."

They are being phased out. The deadline for manufacturers to stop making certain wattages in the PAR style tungsten bulbs (probably 100W or 75W...I forgot to bring info home from work) is July 14th. However, stores can keep selling what they have until they run out, so you might not see your familiar bulbs disappearing quite yet.

I saw you mention can lights, but I thought you had other bulbs to replace, too; sorry for the misunderstanding. FWIW, they've been making halogen bulbs for recessed lights for years, and those aren't being phased out. Again, halogens don't save as much energy as CFLs, or last as long, but they're longer-lasting and more energy-efficient than the comparable tungsten bulbs, and they put out nice light (plus, have you ever had a CFL bulb last as many years as it was supposed to?).

There are 4 primary things for you to look for when you go bulb shopping (I'd recommend doing this at a knowledgeable hardware or home-improvement store so it's not so overwhelming, but I'm biased since I work at an Ace Hardware).

Watts: check your fixtures and know the highest watt bulb they can handle before you go shopping. Many of the new energy efficient bulbs list their actual wattage, as well as the comparable tungsten bulb wattage. ie: 13W CFL = 40W tungsten (comparable because their output of lumens is similar - see below). The watts are the energy consumed by the bulb. You can do what I do, and not save many watts because you increase the brightness...or you can keep the brightness about the same and save on energy.

Base/style: I'm betting your can lights take a standard Edison base and a PAR30 or PAR30L (though there are a few similar variations, PAR20, PAR38, etc. so I could be wrong). Regardless of whether you choose CFL, halogen, or LED, you'll need the same base and style. Even if you're updating to more efficient bulbs, it might not hurt to bring an old bulb along, just to be you're on the right track size-wise (there are always more variables than you expect). Oh, another option you may run into with this type of fixture is spotlight and floodlight. Spotlights focus the light on a smaller area (focused task light, perhaps, or showcasing art), whereas floodlights spread it out over a wider range (better for illuminating the whole room).

Lumens: the amount of light a bulb puts out - the higher the number, the brighter the bulb, making it easier to compare LED vs. CFL vs. tungsten (similar lumens in the 3 types will have very different wattages)

Kelvin or 'K': the temperature of the light. The higher the number, the cooler/brighter the light. Sunlight/daylight temperature bulbs may have rating of 6000K compared to a soft white or warm white bulb of around 2700K. I prefer the softer light, personally. Oh, and GE Reveal bulbs, which have many devotees and supposedly offer lighting that's true to colors, are now available in various types of energy-saving bulbs; I don't think they list a Kelvin rating, but I bet they're on the higher/cooler end of the spectrum.

(My store got in a couple LED bulbs for recessed lights a year or two ago...they're still on the shelf, since there's not much demand for a $50 bulb in a small town. That's what we get for trying to jump ahead of the curve! ;) Time for a close-out sale, I believe...)

I'm a little tired as I write this, so I hope it's coherent enough to be helpful!

Jessica, I wish you worked at the Ace Hardware near us! Thank you very much for giving me a kind of Dummy's Guide along with your own observations. It's very helpful. In fact, I was thinking of going to HD or looking at Costco, but coincidentally, the best hardware store around is an Ace. We go there for other things but I don't know why I didn't think of going there to discuss bulbs! I think I will. Thanks again.

"Trance, I have to ask -- where is it that you live?! I know that incandescents are taking up less and less shelf space in our local stores. I've read about those bugs with the CFLs. Thanks for noting your experience."

lazydaisy I live in Australia and they phased out the incandescents a long time ago. I have one really old big 200w incandescent bulb that I keep safe and use it in a tall lamp without a shade when I'm painting because it gives off such good light. I hope it doesn't ever blow because I can't buy another one lol, but apart from that I don't miss the incandescents because we don't have to replace bulbs all the time like we used to and we are saving on power.

Ah. Interesting. Yes, that bulb sounds great for painting. When you referenced "oz" it conjured up images of Dorothy and the Wizard. Thanks again for your reply.