If you’re considering purchasing a front or rear projection TV you need to be aware of how important DLP lamps will be to your television. You also need to be aware that they’re expensive and they do need to be replaced pretty frequently. These lamps can cost $200 or more and might need to be replaced every six months to two years, depending on how often you use your television each day.

If you happen to enjoy having a television on several hours a day just as background noise and to glance at occasionally, a projection television might not be the best choice for you. Just like a light bulb, a DLP lamp has a certain number of burning hours within it. And obviously, the longer it burns each day, the fewer number of days you’ll be able to use it.

If you use the television for three or four hours a day, you could be replacing the light every year. The lamp could also last for two years even if you use it a little more, as there’s no real guarantee about how many hours each one will last. A good guess is that each one will last between 1000 and 2000 hours but it could be less or more than that depending on the brand and the individual light. Just like some light bulbs tend to blow out very quickly, some lamps are going to go long before you think they should.

LED DLP lamps are a better choice than other types as they do tend to last much longer and don’t burn as hot as other lights. You won’t find cost savings from purchasing these lights except in that they do tend to need replacement less frequently. Stock up on two or three when you find a good sale to save a little bit of money over the long haul.