Can Energy Star bulbs work in dimmers?

Question

We just bought enough Energy Star spirals to replace the rest of our traditional bulbs (we'd started in some rooms about a year ago). When I put a bulb in a lamp that has 3 light settings, the bulb hummed quite loudly (and wouldn't dim). We also put the bulbs in a ceiling fan that has the capability to dim as well, and they all started humming when we tried to dim them. My husband says he thinks that since they're running on gas that they need full power to work, so the dimming effect won't work. Are we just doing something wrong, or are we stuck without the option to use dimmers?

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

Only ceratin ones.  Be sure to read the label on the package.  The ones that work in a dimmer will specifically say so.  If it doesn't say, then the answer is no.

Answer 3

Those bulbs will be damaged by a dimmer. I think there are some special ones that will work, but read the package carefully. If the label does not allow dimmer use, assume it is forbidden. Probably, if you had read the label on your bulbs, you would have seen a warning not to use that bulb in a dimmer.

Answer 4

Some will and some wont. Usually the label on the package will say if the bulb is dimmer compatible or not.

From what you describe the bulbs you have are not dimmer compatible.

I just did a google search for "dimmer compact fluorescent" and found the link below for a dimmable energy saving bulb.

Maybe you could sell the bulbs you can't use to a Friend who doesn't need dimmable bulbs and then buy these.

Answer 5

You have to buy ones that were produced to allow dimming.  The regular ones won't.

Answer 6

These Energy Star bulbs are really miniature fluorescent tubes and are not usually dimmable - not even the regular tubes are. I have read about some unique ones that can be dimmed but never saw them in the stores.

Answer 7

yup

Answer 8

Don't use energy savers in dimmers. They will never work properly, sorry.

Answer 9

Depends on the brand i have a GE energy saver in my dimmer lamp and it works wonderful.

Answer 10

The florescent type of bulbs will not dim. In fact you can actually wreck the bulb if you try to dim it.  I learned that the hard way..  

But a new bulb that is even more energy wise compared to the florescent bulbs are the new LCD bulbs, which are dimmable.  There harder to find and cost a little more but they use even less power then the florescent and last even longer.  If you do a search on-line you can find them. From what I know the LCD bulbs are dimmable..

Answer 11

I had the same problem.  My house has some energy savers and I tried to put them in dimmers and they didn't work.  They hummed, didn't turn instantly on, flickered, and weren't as bright as the normal bulbs... even though the number of lumens was higher.  Also be aware almost all of the bulbs that we bought lasted only about 5 months, but we recieved a full refund.

One website I found said that the type of bulb my family had won't work in dimmers, so I quit on putting them in dimmers.

Answer 12

some do and some dont, be sure to buy the right one.

Answer 13

Didnt work for me

I tried it and had no luck at all

unfortunate isnt it