Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
1) - Always run your projector for a minimum of 30-60 minutes after you turn it on, do not treat it like a TV.
2) - NEVER turn your projector on soon after turning it off, that is what cooks the bulb.
3) - Replace the bulbs when they are low/dim, do not wait for them to fully burn out. The bulbs can pop/explode if you run them down to absolutely nothing.
4) - Altitude affects bulb life negatively, and Calgary isn't great. The cooling system has to work harder.
5) - Keep the air filter clean, and make sure there is good ventilation around the projector.
6)- The lifespan of the bulb depends on a lot of things, including environment,
your brightness settings, running it on "hi" or "low", etc. That 4000 hours is the extreme best case scenario.
7) The biggest thing is don't turn your projector back on until it's fully cooled down, and don't turn it off unless it's been running for 30-60 minutes first. That will help a lot.