Can Led Bulbs Be Used in Refrigerators? (And in the Freezer?)

Most refrigerators these days come with LED lights already fitted. Some may use incandescent, while others come with antiquated light bulbs. Either way, that shouldn’t start worrying you, thinking that you can’t use LED light bulbs in your refrigerator. 

Friends and relatives will often recommend LED light bulbs, but the question of whether or not you can use these bulbs on refrigerators is a significant concern. While most people say that you can use LED lights in the fridge, refrigerators’ frigid temperatures can cause their breakage. 

You may be disadvantaged in some cases because your fridge is too old to integrate well with the LED bulbs. Whatever the issue or state you are in, the chances are that you want to get all answers to the questions you have. 

This post will walk you through everything you need to know about using LED light bulbs in the refrigerator – all questions you have will also be answered within this article. 

Can Led Bulb Work in the Refrigerator?

You can use an LED bulb in the fridge – as long as you see the label LED, then you are good to go. However, it is also essential to note that replacing fridge bulbs requires expertise and caution. This is because you could end up damaging the wires or replace them with a high watt bulb. 

Sure, more and more LED bulbs are coming into the market, and it is easier to think that you can walk into a supermarket, pick your LED bulb, and fix your fridge bulb. However, you must be very cautious because the fridge light is not like the one in your living or bedroom that you can set anytime, as long as it is damaged or needs a decent one. 

While you can use LED lights in the fridge, they are not very friendly with the oven because of their very high temperatures. LED bulb lights don’t love too much heat, which might cause them to get damaged after a short time, which I’m sure you wouldn’t love. 

Away from that, most people, including me, love LED lights because of a reason – they are versatile, which means that they can serve you for various purposes. However, one of the downsides of LED light bulbs is that they don’t want too much heat, making them a perfect fit for ovens and ideal for a refrigerator. 

Colder temperatures are sustainable to LED bulb lights, so it is never a bad idea to swap your old fridge bulb with LED bulbs in any case you need to. 

Can LEDs Be Used in Freezers?

Now that you can use LED bulbs in the fridge, what about the freezers? Can I also use LED bulb lights in my freezer? This is a common question I usually get asked most of the time. The simple answer is yes; you can use LED bulbs in the freezers. 

As we have discussed, we have noted that LED bulbs are suited for colder environments and not very high temperatures. This is the number one reason why you should replace your old freezer light bulb with a LED bulb. 

One of the advantages I love about LED light bulbs is that they have no glass elements. This makes them flexible to sustain any fluctuations in temperature changes. Even more, these bulbs are durable, which means that they can serve you for a long if you don’t end up breaking them mistakenly. 

Many LED bulbs can sustain up to -41 degrees. Whatever freezer you are using, rest assured that it is safe to use a LED bulb in the freezer. However, as usual, you need to make sure that you are using a high-quality LED bulb. 

Do You Need a Special Light Bulb for a Fridge?

While you now know that you can use LED bulbs in the fridge and freezer, you are probably wondering if specific bulbs are explicitly built to serve in the refrigerator or freezer.

The answer to the question is: Do I need a particular light bulb for a fridge is? No, you don’t need any specialized bulbs for your fridge. As long as the bulb you want to use fits well, there is no issue. 

But it is also essential that I let you know of some issues you would most likely run into during this process. I have listed the problems below:

• The bulb you’ll probably be using is not purpose-designed, meaning that they may not serve as well as the original bulb served you. 
• Most LED bulbs haven’t been sealed properly, meaning you risk coming into contact with a live wire, which can be dangerous. 
• The LED bulbs are not shatterproof, which means that they could end up causing a lot of mess in your refrigerator; plus, you’ll incur the cost of getting a new one. 

Like any other appliance or equipment, you need to be sure that it will match whatever purpose you are buying it for. Therefore, it is a good idea to consult with your fridge manufacturer so you can be sure. 

Why Are These Special Bulbs More Expensive?

The answer to this question boils down to one thing – supply and demand. As you know, standard LED bulbs are produced in bulk, meaning that you can get them from any shop you walk into. However, special LED bulbs for refrigerators are custom made and scarce. 

Fridge LED bulbs will never be used for any other purpose except when they need to be used in the refrigerator. This makes them hard to find, and because of this, it’s a no-brainer that manufacturers will try to hike the prices of the specialized bulbs. 

The bottom line is that the specialized bulbs for refrigerators are scarce, giving manufacturers the reason to hike prices. However, you must never assume that these bulbs are super expensive and that you can never find one at an affordable price. 

Why Are Leds Better Than Traditional Incandescent Bulbs in the Fridge?

I saw this coming – you asking me this question – why are LED bulbs better than the traditional incandescent bulbs for use in the fridge. 

The first reason why LED bulbs are great compared to traditional bulbs is that they emit much lower heat, which is best for colder areas like the fridge. 

That means that even if you leave the door of your fridge open, the light coming from the LED bulbs won’t affect the nature of your food. 

The second reason why LED bulbs are way better than traditional incandescent bulbs is that they save energy, which means having them trim down your electricity bills. 

While saving on your electricity bills is good enough, LED bulbs offer more than that. With LED bulbs, rest assured of an eco-friendly environment. 

One of the reasons not many people mention is that LED bulbs are way fancier and look useful than the traditional incandescent bulbs, emitting a dull yellow glow. 

In general, LED bulbs have everything it takes to match the modern world with its concerns – from the aesthetic value to the purpose it performs. 

Things to Check Before Buying Led for Fridge

Now that we have talked much about LED bulbs, I believe you have made up your mind to purchase one from your nearest local retailers. With that in mind, it is time to check out a few considerations before you buy your fridge LED bulb, shall we? 

1. Ensure it is the Correct Size

This is obvious, but it pains me how most people will forget about this when they walk into a supermarket and find items they didn’t even intend to purchase. 

When you have decided to buy a LED bulb for your fridge, ensure that the size is correct. You may want to check the fitting and the size of the fitting itself. 

Most common bulbs are E14 (for the fridge), but this doesn’t mean that all fridge bulbs will measure the same. You must ask or check the manual before concluding. 

2. Ensure the Right Shape

You need to give this a second thought because the chances are that there is limited space in your fridge. As such, you need to make sure that you are choosing a bulb shape that will easily fit in your fridge without complications. 

It is not a crime to replace your old bulb with a different shape, but you need to ensure that the figure will easily fit into your fridge without consuming much space. The problem, though, with using a different shape is that your bulb could end up breaking due to limited space. 

3. A Protective Plastic Case is Essential

There are always higher chances of getting electrocuted when you try to brush through the bulbs, especially when you are doing this on bulbs with poor connections. This is why you need to ensure that the bulb you are purchasing has a protective plastic case.

Do LED Lights Use More Energy in Freezing Temperatures?

No, LED lights don’t use more energy in freezing temperatures. To be precise, LED lights consume less power than other bulbs, which is why most people prefer them over traditional incandescent bulbs. LED lights will always remain calm no matter the kind of temperatures they are exposed to.

Why Do Freezers Lack Light While Refrigerators Have?

While there’s little to no information as to why most freezers lack lighting, there are a few theories proposed by online publications, all of which revolve around the sake concept. Manufacturers look for budget cuts as possible, and installing a light in the freezer will mean extra cost. Again, there are fewer advantages to putting light in the freezer, some of which include:   

• Many people rarely use the freezer as much as they use the refrigerator. 
• Most frozen foods need to be thawed first before cooking. The kitchen lights will, therefore, serve as the freezer lights. 
• Accumulation of frost on the freezer walls could block the light. 
• Freezers are often filled more tightly than fridges, which means that a light bulb would be unnecessary. 
• Traditional light bulbs are more likely to shatter in cold temperatures. 
• The residual heat of a lighting bulb could warm up the preserved food. 

Of course, modern high-end refrigerators now feature light bulbs in their freezer cabinets, unlike before. 

Frequently Asked Questions