How to Safely Install A Ceiling Heat Lamp

A ceiling heat lamp bulb generates heat as well as light. Consider installing this kind of lamp in a bathroom to provide a small area of heat for drying off.

Step 1 – Cut the Electricity

Use your circuit breaker to turn off the electricity in the room in which you are installing your heat lamp.

Step 2 – Select the Installation Location

You can install a heat lamp in place of an existing ceiling light, though this is usually not recommended. Heat lamps provide low illumination and so do not function well as lights. Their main function is to produce heat.

Never use the original light socket for an existing light for a heat lamp. Heat lamp bulbs range from 150 to 250 watts. Standard light sockets are designed for 75 watts. Using a standard light socket creates a fire hazard.

Step 3 – Cut Out a Hole for the Ceiling Electrical Box

Using the ceiling electrical box as a template, draw a circle and cut it out using your drywall saw.

Step 4 – Cut Out Hole for the Wall Electrical Box

If your room has a two gang electrical box for your light switch but only has one actual switch, this step is not necessary. You can simply add the switch for the heat lamp to the same electrical box.

If not, use a stud finder to find the stud that the current switch box is mounted to. Using the new wall electrical box as a template, draw a rectangle in the same stud bay as your existing switch and cut it out.

Step 5 – Run Your Hot Wire

Run a wire from the existing switch to the new switch. Tie the wire into the constant hot side of the light switch.

Step 6 – Run the Wire to the Heat Lamp

Run your wire from the hole where you will be adding the heat lamp to the hole for the new switch. Mark this wire on the switch end using a permanent marker.

Step 7 – Install the Cut in Boxes

Insert the cut-in boxes into their respective locations and tighten the screws until the cut-in box is flush with the drywall.

Step 8 – Connect the Wiring

Connect the wiring on your new heat lamp and screw it into the ceiling electrical box. Connect the wiring without the mark to your new switch on the constant hot side. Connect the wiring with the mark to the switched side and screw the switch into the electrical box. Put the cover plate over the switch.

Step 9 – Finish Up

Finally, put the heat bulb into the lamp. If the lamp includes a light cover, put it on.

Step 10 – Test

Turn the power back on to the bathroom and test. If the light turns on and produces heat, you have installed it properly.