How to Replace a Ceiling Light Fixture

How many times have you flipped the switch to turn that old ceiling light fixture on and sighed at its weak illumination? Do you think it's been there since the days of Thomas Edison? And it's really, really ugly. You'd love to change it out, but dealing with anything electrical terrifies you. And, unfortunately, you can't afford both a new light fixture and an electrician to install it.

Most people have a healthy aversion to dealing with electricity. However, if you kill the power to whatever you are working on, there is no danger. That is always the first and most important step before you begin working on anything electrical.

You will need to gather your tools, supplies, and new fixture before you start the job. You will need a stable stepladder, or two, if you can enlist someone to help you hold the new fixture while you wire it up. You also need screwdrivers, wire cutters and stripper, black tape, and wire nuts, which may come with the new fixture. A pair of safety glasses to protect your eyes from dust or insulation is also a good idea. If you will be working alone, rig up a hook to hold the new fixture while you wire it by cutting a short piece of wire or a clothes hanger about six inches and bend both end to make a hook.

Open the new fixture up and look it over carefully. Go ahead and remove the globe or cover of the old fixture. Check the screw holes that hold it to the ceiling and see if they are located in the same place as the new fixture. Most are standard, however, some of the holes in the older fixtures may not align up up with the new ones. If they will not, you will have to decide on how to attach the fixture to the ceiling.

Once you are ready to begin work, it is time for that most important step in dealing with electricity. That step is ensuring that the electricity is off. Locate the breaker in your main electrical box that controls the light fixture you want to replace. If you do not have the breakers labeled, now is a good time to label them. It may make the next job a little faster. Once you have located the correct breaker, turn it off. If there is any possibility that someone else might try to turn the breaker back on, then place a piece of tape over it with the words "do not turn on" written on it.

Now you're ready to rid yourself of that outdated and ugly old ceiling light. One last safety check before you take the old fixture down is to turn the switch on and make sure the light does not come on. Turn the switch back off. Put your safety glasses on and remove the old fixture. This is easily done by removing the two nuts or screws holding the fixture up. Once it comes free from the ceiling, you will need to disconnect the wires. They should be connected with wire nuts. Simply turn them counterclockwise to remove them. Put the old fixture aside.

If you are replacing the light solo, hook one end of your homemade hook through one of the holes on the side of the light and the other end in a hole in the ceiling electrical box. This will hold the light while you connect the wires.

The wiring is simple. Connect white to white, black to black, and the ground wire to the grounding screw on the ceiling box. Use the correct size wire nuts and twist them securely. Some people like to wrap electrical tape around the wire and wire nut to help secure them. After the wires are connected, gently push them up into the ceiling box and secure the base of the lighting fixture to the ceiling.

Be sure and put the correct wattage bulbs in your new fixture. Attach the cover or globe securely by evenly tightening the small screws that go through the side of the base against the globe.

Carefully climb down from the ladder and return to the main breaker box. Remove your tape and turn the breaker on. Return to the room where you installed the new light fixture and turn the switch on. If the wires are secure, your new light should shine brightly.

Congratulations! What room is next?