Recessed spots & loft insulator.

MrsE_2

I have standard recessed spots fitted in my bathroom & kitchen.

When they were installed the electrician pulled back all the loft insulator from near them.

A surveyor (separate job going on) recommended I buy terrocotta plant pots to cover them & I have.

I "think" DH has put insulator back between pots. But it does feel cooler in that part, like the insulation is inadequate.

I got special bathroom ones, but some of them (2) are difficult to screw off to change the bulbs & the chrome has discoloured on one.
So I wouldn't be adverse to changing the lot, probably to new low energy ones (I've been dragging my feet on it, hoping they would get better - the bulbs & light fittings).

So is there an answer now for low energy recessed spots & loft insulation.

WestonDave

You can buy LED recessed spots which will run a lot cooler due to lower energy use - something like 6 or 8 watts instead of 50. However they are expensive (£20+ per bulb) and you have to be very careful that you buy something which is bright as there are a lot of cheaper ones around that don't live up to their claims. Lightplanet have some which are supposed to be good. Be careful if you are changing low voltage ones as you will probably have to change the transformers. Otherwise they will fit in standard recessed fittings.


I've got special metal boxes (from screwfix) over mine and then insulated over the top - the boxes have a bit more room for heat to dissapate but whether they are significantly better than plant pots I don't know. I just prefer using something designed for the job since its potentially about fire prevention!

MrsE_2

WestonDave wrote: »

You can buy LED recessed spots which will run a lot cooler due to lower energy use - something like 6 or 8 watts instead of 50. However they are expensive (£20+ per bulb) and you have to be very careful that you buy something which is bright as there are a lot of cheaper ones around that don't live up to their claims. Lightplanet have some which are supposed to be good. Be careful if you are changing low voltage ones as you will probably have to change the transformers. Otherwise they will fit in standard recessed fittings.


I've got special metal boxes (from screwfix) over mine and then insulated over the top - the boxes have a bit more room for heat to dissapate but whether they are significantly better than plant pots I don't know. I just prefer using something designed for the job since its potentially about fire prevention!

Its still early days with them isn't it.
I don't think mine are low voltage, I don't think there are transformers.

I would have bought the special ones, it was the surveyor advised me to use terocotta pots.

Thank you

iamana1ias

I've got foot-long lengths of drainpipe around mine (and way way way too much insulation in the loft - must get that sorted).

MrsE_2

iamana1ias wrote: »

I've got foot-long lengths of drainpipe around mine.

????????????

iamana1ias

MrsE wrote: »

????????????

In the loft, to stop the insulation from touching the light fittings. Instead of plant pots.

Not sure what was so hard to understand about that????

MrsE_2

iamana1ias wrote: »

In the loft, to stop the insulation from touching the light fittings. Instead of plant pots.

Not sure what was so hard to understand about that????

What so you have them propped up like poles?

iamana1ias

MrsE wrote: »

What so you have them propped up like poles?

What? No.

Recessed spots have bits that poke into the ceiling/loft. The builders of my house just covered them with lengths of drainpipe so that a) the insulation doesn't get caught in the fittings and b) the light fittings (which get hot) are ventilated (because the tubes are hollow and not capped) so they don't overheat. The pipes are about 6 inches wide.

It's the same as your plant pots except longer and there's better ventilation. They're also easy to see despite about 12 inches of insulation

MrsE_2

iamana1ias wrote: »

What? No.

Recessed spots have bits that poke into the ceiling/loft. The builders of my house just covered them with lengths of drainpipe so that a) the insulation doesn't get caught in the fittings and b) the light fittings (which get hot) are ventilated (because the tubes are hollow and not capped) so they don't overheat. The pipes are about 6 inches wide.

It's the same as your plant pots except longer and there's better ventilation. They're also easy to see despite about 12 inches of insulation

But they are plastic? - Hardly fire resistant.
And they are quite narrow, do they not touch the sides of the light fittings?

iamana1ias

MrsE wrote: »

But they are plastic? - Hardly fire resistant.
And they are quite narrow, do they not touch the sides of the light fittings?

Erm, ceilings and floorboards aren't fire resistant. A fire is unlikely because they provide plenty of ventilation above the fittings, and if a fire did break out it would be the last of my worries, as the ceiling would be on fire first! :rotfl:

The recessed spotlights aren't wide, perhaps 4-5 inches, so a 6 inch drainpipe is plenty wide enough.

Maybe I should climb up there and take a photo for you

By the way, if you do go down the route of replacing light fittings for energy efficient ones, don't be surprised if you have to spend more on heating as a result

MrsE_2

iamana1ias wrote: »

Erm, ceilings and floorboards aren't fire resistant. A fire is unlikely because they provide plenty of ventilation above the fittings, and if a fire did break out it would be the last of my worries, as the ceiling would be on fire first! :rotfl:

I would have worried about plastic causing a fire, being that close to the lights, they do get hot.