Older lighting and fan fixtures can date your home. Changing out lighting and ceiling fans is a simple task that most homeowners can tackle them self. For a low cost your interior or exterior lighting can be changed to a newer and possibly even more cost efficient lighting fixture. Replacing existing light fixtures is usually not too difficult. The job requires no special skills or electrical knowledge. All you need are a few pointers to get you started. You will need a screwdriver and possibly some wire strippers or a utility knife.
Before removing the old light fixture, be sure to observe the first rule of electrical work—Turn off the power to the circuit on which you plan to work! Do this at the service panel (breaker box), and check the circuit to make sure it is off. Inexpensive circuit testers are available that are, essentially, a light with two probes designed to handle house current. They are very useful for testing ground and hot wires, as well as for determining whether a light fixture is carrying current.
Unless the fixture you are replacing is broken and doesn't work, it is possible to use a less elegant method to check the circuit. The light will quit working when its circuit is turned off at the breaker. It will come on again when the breaker is turned back on. (This proves that it is not the light itself that has quit working!). To test, turn the circuit breaker off and on and off again, double-checking the light to confirm that it is indeed the lack of electricity that is causing it to quit working, and not some coincidental failure that could mislead you into getting shocked.
Once the circuit has been turned off at the breaker and has been checked, there is no need to fear working with the wiring on that particular circuit.
The second rule to remember when replacing fixtures is: Wire the new one back in the same way the old one came out! It really can be that simple. Most of the time when replacing light fixtures you will simply be connecting white wires to white wires, and black wires to black. If several wires are involved, however, or if the wiring seems more complicated and perhaps even includes a red wire, take note of the connections before you disconnect them. Make yourself a sketch of how the fixture is wired (index the sketch by wire color) or mark the wires themselves with masking tape and a pencil so you will know how to put them back.
Make your electrical connections by "tying in" to the home wiring using plastic connectors, If the new fixture includes a ground wire (bare or green insulated wire), it should be connected to any other ground wires that may already be in place, and to grounding screws in metal electrical boxes when metal boxes are used to support the fixture.
Finish installing the fixture as indicated in your manufacturer's instructions. Then, you're ready to install the recommended bulbs, turn on the breaker and try out the new light.
Ceiling fans are both functional and decorative. They are particularly useful in the summer, since they effectively reduce energy usage while creating a cool breeze. They can also be used in the winter to gently pull heated air away from the ceiling where it tends to collect. Light kits can be added to increase the usefulness of many ceiling fans. A wide range of both fan and light kit styles is available, providing choices that will contribute to the beauty of any room. To replace your ceiling fan simply follow the same wiring directions as replacing light fixtures. Another option with ceiling fan is to simply replace the blades, replace the fan lighting or both. Whatever option you choose, you will have a nice looking fixture with little cost or effort!
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