In fact, you don’t need to have any real skills to get the job done on your own. Light fixtures are more or less universal, except for ceiling fans, so you should be able to perform this home maintenance chore in no time.
If you need detailed instructions on how to change a light fixture and what common mistakes to avoid, keep reading this article.
Replacing the Old Light Fixture with the New
If you’re trying to figure out a way to install a light fixture where there wasn’t one before, that’s a more complicated task, and you’ll likely need to call a professional electrician to do it.
But if you merely want to replace the old light fixture with a new one, be sure to follow the steps outlined below.
1. Switch Off the Power
Before you start, you need to make sure you’re doing it safely. It’s not enough to hit the switch, you have to turn off the power at the source.
That means knowing where the electric panel is in your home. If you’re in a new home and don’t know where it is, there are a few places to check.
In most cases, you’ll find it in a garage, basement, or even outside. Once you locate it, be sure to leave the light on at first to confirm that you’ve hit the right switch.
2. Remove the Fixture
Of course, the lightbulbs should be removed first. And if there are any glass covers, remove them too. Then onto the main event – the canopy. It comes in all shapes and sizes, but the idea is always the same.
You’ll need to look for the screw fastening the canopy to the wall. Often, you’ll be able to do it with your fingers, and other times you’ll need to use a screwdriver.
3. Remove the Wiring
When the canopy and any decorations are off, you’ll be able to see the wiring in your light fixture. You’ll see three types of wire – copper (or green), white, and black.
All of them need to be disconnected from the previous fixture. When you see the wire connectors (usually in red), unscrew them and separate all the fixture wiring from the wiring coming out of the ceiling.
4. Remove the Light Fixture
Once the wiring is disconnected, you’ll have no issues simply removing the fixture. There won’t be any anchors if that’s what you’re worried about because that’s located in the electrical panel.
If you’re dealing with a particularly heavy light fixture, it’s probably a good idea to have someone around to help you hold it and pass the new light fixture, so you don’t have to do it yourself.
5. Add New Brackets
This is an optional step, and it doesn’t mean all light fixtures will need new brackets. However, even though most light fixtures are somewhat similar, sometimes you’ll need to install a baseplate to hold up the fixture itself.
It could be like a little strap, or it could look more circular shaped. When you buy a new light fixture, you might want to check the instructions and see if they require a bracket. In some cases, the bracket will already be included in the package.
6. Connect the New Wires
There’s no need to be alarmed by the bare wires coming out of the ceiling. That’s what they’re supposed to look like. The new wires of your light fixture have more silver endings and look more frayed.
You need to twist the wire threads of the wires from the new light fixture with the old wires. Take your time and match the wires of the same colors slowly and carefully.
7. Secure the New Light Fixture
If your new fixture has a chain, all you need to do is adjust the length. This is where specific instructions from the manufacturer come in handy. In case there’s no chain and all you need to do is attach the new canopy to the ceiling, the task is even simpler.
Make sure that any remaining wires or cords are neatly tucked away under the canopy. Once you have everything in place, the final step is to secure everything and put the screws back in place.
8. Switch the Power Back on
If that was your first time changing the light fixture, the moment of truth comes after you restore the power source. Hopefully, if everything is working great, you can go on to admire the new addition to your home and proceed to tell someone else how to change a light fixture in their home.
But if there’s no light, that means you didn’t connect the fixture correctly. In most cases, the issue is that either black or white wires aren’t well enough entwined. This means pulling down the light fixture and trying again.
Problems You Might Run Into
Knowing how to do simple home repairs around the house is important for most people, and tasks like changing your light fixture are an excellent opportunity to develop your DIY home maintenance skills.
But even with jobs like this, unanticipated problems can occur. There’s just no way to predict everything that can go wrong. So, we’ve compiled a list of frequent issues most people have when figuring out how to change a light fixture in their home.
Long Screws
If the fixture you’ve bought to replace the old one has screws that are too long and won’t fit into the canopy, what are you to do? Easy. Simply cut them. If you have a hacksaw, that will do the trick.
However, that could damage the threads. Therefore, the best way to go is to use a wire stripper that has the bolt cutter feature. You can thread the screws in the hole that’s the correct size and just cut off the extra length.
Short Wires
Imagine removing the old fixture and realizing that the wires are just too short. It can become very frustrating trying to connect the new light fixture wiring together.
What you’ll need are several stab-in connectors. When the space you’re working with is just too small, they’re a much more convenient solution than twist-on connectors.
All you have to do is place a new piece of the wire directly into the connector and then use the old connector with the old wire. This will extend the wires, and you won’t have any trouble finishing the task.
Just keep in mind that if the wiring is aluminum, that requires a different and more sophisticated technique — it’s something you shouldn’t do on your own.
Aligning the Screw Holes
When attaching the canopy back to the ceiling, you’ll need to put back at least two screws, and often more. Screwing back the first one is usually simple enough, but then aligning the rest could be challenging.
It’s a small issue that can end up costing you a lot of time. To avoid it, just grab a thinner screwdriver or a bigger nail and move around the canopy until you find the next screw hole.
Get Acquainted with Your Home Wiring System
Hopefully, you’ll do this before you go out and buy a new light fixture. If your home was built before the mid-80s, there’s a chance that the type of electrical insulation you have won’t be able to sustain the heat from the new light fixture.
You have to look for a label that specifically mentions using wires that can tolerate higher temperatures. If it’s a hanging light fixture you’re trying to attach, you’ll likely be fine because they don’t heat up the wiring system.
Alternatively, you’ll need to change the wiring in your home, which is, as you might assume, a more complicated job only done by licensed electricians.
Better Lighting
When you’re working on attaching the new light fixture, you’re going to need more light in the room. Make sure you have extra lamps around or even pointed at the ceiling.
Pro Tip: Use a camping headlamp if you have one; you’ll be able to direct the light as required. Or ask someone to point a flashlight at the ceiling until you get the light fixture replaced.
Final Thoughts
We’ve covered all the steps on how to change a light fixture in your home, and even listed the most common issues you might run into. How difficult this task will depend on several factors.
How old is the previous fixture and how compatible is the wiring with the new? In case you’re dealing with a very heavy light fixture, you’ll probably need some assistance.
In any case, you must turn off the power source at the electrical panel before you proceed. If you think you might be in over your head at any moment, call an electrician and let them finish the job.