How to Fix a Broken Lighting Fixture

!±8± How to Fix a Broken Lighting Fixture

When lights are doing their work in your home, it's a thing of beauty. They can so easily convey any mood or feeling, and add comfort and style almost effortlessly. But getting your lights to operate as intended isn't always so easy. There are many things that can go wrong with any lighting installation or wiring, or you might have something as basic as a broken bulb. While you should call a professional if you're experiencing serious electrical difficulties, here are a few tips you can take to solve some basic lighting problems without a lot of wasted time and effort.

Problem: The Bulb does not light when activated.

Before you decide to call out an electrician to fix a non-starting fixture, try a few basic tips such as changing the light bulb. This might seem basic enough, but there are many factors that can cause bulbs to short or burn out well before their time, so it's not always as easy as simply guessing by when you last changed the bulb. When changing a bulb, it's very important not to touch the bare bulb with your bare hands. The oils in your hand will cause the spots on the bulb that contacted your hand to overheat, which can cause a bulb to burn out much more easily than it would otherwise.

If the bulb is working, make sure it's tightly in the socket. You don't want to over-tighten, but make sure the bulb is firmly in as far as the socket allows. A bulb screwed in too tight could break or short, so do be careful.

Then, if you still don't get a light, then it's probably wise to unscrew the bulb and look under it at the socket tab. This is the small piece in the center of the socket, but after a long period of use, it's possible that the tab has recessed enough to stop making contact with the bulb when it is activated. The tab can be pulled up, but do not think to do this by hand, or if you still are supplying power to that socket, as it is very dangerous work for the amateur.

Make sure the connections are tight and that the switch that activates the light is tight and operating well. If you do all of these things and are still unable to produce light, you're now in a position where only an expert has the know-how to make your lights shine bright again.