UV Bulb Shelf Life
UV light has found widespread use in florescent bulbs by using a very low, safe dosage of mercury. Though a little more expensive, UV bulbs last much longer than the average bulb.
UV Bulb Life Based on Normal Usage
According to General Electric the average UV light has an unlimited shelf life as long as it is kept in a dry, dark area at a moderate temperature.
UV Bulb Life For Aquariums
When using UV bulbs in aquariums, the shelf life of the bulb does come into play in terms of how effective the light is on thwarting algae and scum. According to American Aquarium, UV bulbs for aquariums have a shelf life of up to three years maximum, as dust will hinder the bulb's effectiveness in an aquarium more so than dust would hinder typical use.
Germicidal UV Bulb Life
UV bulbs are also being used for food processing, at medical facilities, in clean rooms and in phototherapy. This UV bulb, a germicidal bulb, has a shorter life than generic UV bulbs or UV bulbs for aquariums. FoodProcessingTechnology.com recommends that any UV bulbs stored longer than six months on the shelf be replaced.
References
Writer Bio
Laura Kalinowski has been a professional writer since 2001. She has written for print, television and online publications, including "The Weekly Standard" and Wisconsin Public Television. Kalinowski holds a Bachelor of Arts in journalism from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Photo Credits
- uv light. image by Harvey Hudson from Fotolia.com
- bulb image by Marek Kosmal from Fotolia.com
- Aquarium image by crossgolfing from Fotolia.com
- medical equipment on white table image by Oleg Mitiukhin from Fotolia.com
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