How to Change Light Bulbs on Ceiling Fans

Ceiling fans equipped with light fixtures are a perennially popular way to add overhead lighting to a home while getting a good breeze started. The light fixtures are essentially of two types: bulbs screwed into tulip frosted glass shades, and bulbs inside or underneath a glass shade or enclosure. Whichever fixture is attached to your fan, changing a burnt-out bulb should not take more than a minute.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• New light bulbs Stepladder

1. Change bulbs in a tulip-shade fixture by unscrewing the bulb with one hand while holding the tulip shade with the other to prevent it from coming loose from the housing. Use a stepladder, not a chair or table, to stand on.

2. Check the tightening screws around the tulip shade and tighten if the shade wiggles or feels loose. Glass shades can loosen over time from the movement of the fan.

3. Replace the bulb in an enclosed glass shade by placing one hand underneath the shade to catch it if the glass falls while you are removing it.

4. Loosen the tightening knobs that hold the lip of the glass shade to the metal housing of the ceiling fan. The shade should come off easily once all the knobs have been unscrewed about halfway.

5. Replace the bulbs and place the glass shade back into position, easing the lip into the metal fixture.

6. Tighten the knobs evenly all around the shade. Don;t screw one knob all the way in, then another, and so forth. Tighten each one a bit at a time to ensure the shade is seated evenly in the fixture and can't accidentally fall to the floor.

References

• Ceiling fan replacement glass and fixtures