Do you run your lamps everyday?

[Tanya]

Do most people run their lamps everyday for the max hours recommended? Or do you only turn some of them on when the mood strikes? I've put mine on a timer so they run everyday, but I've been wondering if it's going to wear them out by being on week after week, month after month, and so on.

[medicated goo]

I run most of them every day and rotate different lamps in and out. I like to vary the colors so I rotate mainly newer USA lamps in and out. My vintage stuff runs almost daily and can run forever compared to the newer lamps without any noticeable wear. I find I am more partial to the yellow, orange, white and gold color waxes so they run more often but I do find I run the blues, greens and reds when the urge strikes for those colors. I don’t run many of the colored liquids with the exception of orange wax/orange fluid, red wax/yellow fluid and red wax/purple fluid. All in all I typically have about 20-30 lamps running simultaneously varying the colors about weekly – except for the Aztecs, some Ceramics and the Vintage lamps which run constantly (daily) and rest at night. Yes, I am a lava junkie.......

[mark]

I dont think you can wear them out. As long as you dont sit them in direct sunlight they will not fade. And as long as you dont tamper will the sealed cap they will not evaporate. As long as you follow these simple rules and dont leave them on too long each session you should have have many good years out of your lava lamp.

[Modulo '70]

I normally run one or maybe two lamps for anything between 3 and 10 hours. Somedays I won't run any at all. Occasionally, I'll run one overnight in my room as it adds a soothing glow to the night time.

My friend's large Taiwanese 'knock-off' Crestworth Telstar wannabe takes about 5 hours to start flowing. It's lodging with me at the moment and will be going back to my friends on the weekend if it's well behaved.

[Shawn]

I have a small 8 oz (blue wax/ clear liquid)one i took with me to work to help with eye strain...i do data entry...it runs for 4 1/2 hrs while im there....(im part time) :D my coworkers think im nuts....i want an 8 oz yellow wax/purple liquid one...i have a 20 oz in that color and love it!

the ones at home, well, my 20 oz yelloq/purple one i have on now, but the rest just hang out on my computer desk

[nico bellic]

my lamps are on all day and night

[goodude26]

I usually run a different lamp every week. I really only have room for one on my night stand in my tiny room so I change the globe only or the whole base and globe if I want a different model displayed. I run the lamp that I have out all night as a night light and if I'm off the next day, I usually leave the lamp on most of the next day or the whole next day and night, depending on my mood. If my days are off in a row I may leave the lamp on for 2 days and 3 nights or so.

When I got my very first lava lamp, I remember leaving it on for a month or 2 after the break-in period. (Now I have nearly 50 lavas 8 years later.) I still have the globe to this day. It faded and I had to re-color it. It is a purple/yellow. It faded to an ugly very light shade of pink liquid. I re-colored it twice because the coloring I used didn't take well the first time. But now it looks like its old self and still flows great. It is about 8 years old.
(The fading was due to my room getting direct sunlight in the evenings. I didn't know this until I was actually home for an evening since my work shift was from late afternoon until 11pm.)

The instructions that come with each and every lava lamp are there for a reason. Keep the run time for your lamp a considerable amount of time and it will last you years and years and years. Even the China crap ones can last lots of years. Just run them for the recommended time the instructions say. You can run them longer ONLY if the lamp does not get too hot. I always have a fan on in my room to create good air circulation and to keep the temperature of my room down a few degrees.
Keeping your lamp on 24/7 is NOT recommended by anyone because the lamp does need a break. So, run your lamp a day or two making sure it isn't getting too hot. It will last with good care.

W_J