What Is the Life of Tanning Bulbs?

Getting a good tan in a tanning bed depends on how old the bulbs are

If you own or plan to purchase a tanning bed, you need to account for the lifespan of tanning bulbs so you can plan for the expense of replacement bulbs. According to tanningbulbsguide.com, a tanning bed is worthless if the bulb has outlived its functionality.

Life Expectancy

New tanning bulbs will give you 800 to 1000 hours of use.

Strength

Unlike common household lightbulbs, the effectiveness of tanning bulbs decreases with the age of the bulbs. In fact, once tanning bulbs have reached 50 percent of their lifespan they offer only about 50 percent of their original strength.

Face Bulbs

Bulbs focused on the facial area last for a shorter amount of time than bulbs aimed at the rest of the body. If you have a tanning bed that has a bulb directed at your head you will need to replace it after 700 hours of use.

Tips

Keep a supply of tanning bulbs available to that when bulbs burn out or you feel the strength is not what it was previously, you will not have to wait for an order to come in.

Warning

Take extra precautions when using newer bulbs. Newer bulbs are stronger, so it may be a good idea to cut down the time you spend in the bed for the first few sessions with a new bulb.

References

• Tanning Bed Bulbs Guide

Resources

• Learning about Tanning Bulbs at Tanning-Guides