How to Safely Repair Ceiling Light Fittings

If your chandelier or overhead lights have started flickering, buzzing, or simply won’t turn on at all, the problem may be your ceiling light fittings. Because they’re not easily accessible, home owners have a tendency to forget about these light fittings, which can become loose, dusty and unreliable over time. Depending on the issue, you may be able to safely repair your ceiling light fittings yourself, but in some cases the job will have to be left to someone with proper electrical certification. Keep reading to find out how to test your light fittings, repair minor problems or replace the light fitting all together.

Step 1 – Test the Light Bulb

Before you can start any repairs, you need to find out what the problem is. It could just be that the bulb isn’t working. Get out your step ladder and climb up until you’re close the ceiling light fitting. Remove the glass or globe that’s over the light, and unscrew or remove the light bulbs. You may want to have an extra pair of hands helping you out, to hold these different parts and hand you tools as you proceed. Put the light bulb into a different fitting to see if it works. If it doesn’t, your problem is easily solved by replacing the light bulb; if it does, you’ll need to keep rooting to find the problem.

Step 2 – Test the Voltage

Next, you need to find out if the light fitting is receiving any electricity. Unscrew the light fixture and gently loosen it so that wires are exposed. Take your voltage tester and see of the wires are live. If the voltage tester lights up when touched to two opposite wires, then the electricity is just fine, and you probably just need to change the light fixture itself. If the wires aren’t conducting electricity, check your circuit box to make sure all the circuits and fuses are working. You may need to call an electrician if there’s an extensive wiring problem.

Step 3 – Turn Off the Circuit Breaker

If the light bulb is fine and the wires are fine, you know the problem is in the light fitting itself. You’ll need to remove it from the ceiling, but before doing so, safety first: make sure to turn off the circuit breaker. After you turn it off, test the circuits with your voltage tester to make sure the current is truly cut, in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

Step 4 – Remove the Light Fitting

Climb back up the ladder and remove the light fitting from the ceiling. Very carefully detach the fitting from the electric wires and get off the ladder.

Step 5 – Repair the Fitting and Wires

Brush off any dust, dead insects or anything else that might have collected in the light fitting, impairing its function. Check to see if the electric wires are in good condition. If they are frayed, use your wire cutter to gently trim the frayed ends. Reattach the wires to the light fitting, making sure that the connections are tight and secure. Screw the light fitting back into the ceiling, and reinstall the light bulb and the glass or globe. Turn the circuit breaker back on and check to see if the light now works. If it still doesn’t work, you may need to replace the ceiling light fitting altogether.