How to Replace Square Recessed Lighting

Square recessed lighting is a beautiful alternative to standard lighting fixtures. This type of lighting offers control over the quality, quantity and direction of light in a space, and the various bulb options offer an energy-efficient solution to your home or office lighting needs. Replacing square recessed lighting is a moderately difficult DIY project which involves some basic electrical work, and may require alteration of the ceiling surrounding your lighting fixture. With the proper tools, this project can be completed quickly and affordably, reducing the cost of your home renovation project.

Step 1 – Remove the Old Fixture

In order to replace you light, you must first remove the old fixture. Turn on your recessed light. Go to the breaker box and flip off the electrical breaker for the room you will be working on. If the light turns off, you have successfully shut off the electricity to the fixture. Gently unscrew the cover and trim for the light and remove the bulb.

You may need ceiling access to remove the junction box and the top element of the fixture. This can be achieved by removing panels if the ceiling is paneled, or by raising the top portion of the existing fixture to work, though the second option provides a more cramped working area that will call for greater dexterity and care. Once in the junction box, remove the wire connectors and untwist the fixture wires from the house wires, keeping the house wires accessible for hooking up the new fixture.

Step 2 – Measure the Drywall Hole

Once the old fixture is removed, measure the hole in the ceiling to determine the size of fixture you will need. If you can not find a fixture that is a perfect match, one that is slightly larger is better than one that is slightly smaller. It is much easier to use a jigsaw or drywall saw to enlarge a hole than it is to patch drywall or plaster, mount it, tape it and paint the surrounding area. In most cases, the same size should be available if the light fixture was installed within the last decade. If not, you may have to enlarge the hole.

Step 3 – Install the New Fixture

Install the new fixture, starting with the top element and the junction box. Splice together the house wires and the fixture wires, and cap them off with the twist on wire connectors. Attach the junction box to the ceiling joist, in accordance with local code, which will vary by location. Once the top portion is in, follow the instructions that accompany your replacement recessed light to install the bottom portion of the fixture. Replace the bulb, and install any trim and glass that accompanied the fixture.

Step 4 – Restore Power

Go to the breaker box and turn the fixture back on. The light should be on if you have successfully restored power. Repeat the process with any other fixtures that you wish to replace.