Typical homeowners store unused recessed light housings in the basement, attic, or garage. Getting rid of these antiquated fittings is a simple and inexpensive way to give your home a new look. In this article, we will demonstrate how to easily and quickly dispose of a recessed light housing that has seen better days. Read on if you’re ready to get rid of those eyesores.
Why Do You Remove Old Recessed Light Housing
There are a few scenarios in which you would wish to get rid of a recessed light housing. In the first place, perhaps the bulb has burned out or no longer works. Perhaps you’re doing some home improvement and you’ve decided to upgrade the recessed lighting. If you’re trying to make room in your garage or attic, that could be another reason. For whatever reason, dismantling a recessed light housing is a simple task.
Required Materials
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Tools for severing wires:
- protection glasses
- Ladder (optional)
Removing a recessed light housing requires some fundamental hardware and supplies. In addition to safety goggles, you’ll need a screwdriver, pliers, wire cutters, and so on. A ladder may also be required, depending on how high the fixture is situated.
How Do You Remove Old Recessed Light Housing Step by Step Guide
Step 1: Disconnect the Power
Before beginning any work, check to see that the recessed light housing is unplugged from the electrical source. Stay away from any electrical currents; the worst-case scenario for this task!
In the main breaker box, flick the switch that supplies electricity to the canister housing of the recessed lights. Before doing any work on the housing, check to make sure that there is no power going to it with a voltage tester.
Step 2: Prepare and Gather Tools
An old recessed light housing can be removed with a screwdriver and a stepladder. A pair of pliers could also come in handy for removing the screws.
Step 3: Take Apart the Trim
Wall-mountable LED light strips provide a source of illumination. They rarely fall off the wall, but a mount or holder is recommended if you intend to relocate them frequently. This will reduce the risk of breaking the light strips.
Step 4: Determine the Light Housing Type
When working with recessed lighting, you may encounter both drop-in and new-build housing.Typically, the light housing in new construction is attached to a metal frame that is installed into the drywall, and then screws are used to secure the housing to the frame.
If you need to know whether your light housing is 6 or 8 inches in diameter, you can take a picture or measure it. You can use this to figure out which set of guidelines to adhere to.
Step 5: Loosen the Screws
First, find the screws on either side of the recessed light housing. Usually, there will be two screws. Carefully use a screwdriver to undo the screws, taking care not to strip them.
Step 6: Remove the Light Housing
First, find the screws on either side of the recessed light housing. There are normally two screws. Take care not to strip the screws when you loosen them with a screwdriver.
Step 7: Remove the Bulb
The bulb may be reached without further ado after the housing is removed. You need to reach in and unscrew it from the wall. Pliers can be helpful if you’re having trouble grasping anything. Please use caution around the light bulb, as it may be hot to the touch. Put in a fresh light bulb and get rid of the old one.
Step 8: Deal with the Wire Connections and Recessed Light Hole
Wall-mountable LED light strips provide a source of illumination. They rarely fall off the wall, but a mount or holder is recommended if you intend to relocate them frequently. This will reduce the risk of breaking the light strips.
You can cut a piece of drywall to fit the opening to cover a recessed light hole that is too large for the replacement housing. The hole can be patched using drywall that has been trimmed to size and secured with screws. The cracks can be filled using joint compound before being painted. The hole can be patched with wood or foam if it is smaller than the new house. Just make sure it’s made of something that won’t catch fire easily.
After you’ve dealt with the recessed light hole and wiring connections, you may put in the new housing. If you’re curious about how to dispose of your old recessed light housing, read on!
How to Safely Install Recessed Light Housing
Step 1: Turn Off the Electricity
verify that the electricity is turned off at the source before proceeding. Turning off the breaker for the circuit serving the room where you’ll be working is the safest and most reliable method for doing this. After turning off the power, a non-contact voltage tester can be used to check if the wires are safe to touch.
Step 2: Remove the Old Lighting Fixture
It will require unscrewing the old light fixture from its mounting to be taken out. When the screws are out, the light fixture can be pried from its housing.
Step 3: Enlarge the Opening in Your Ceiling if Necessary
You may need to expand the hole in your ceiling to accommodate the new light housing. The first step is to use a measuring tape to determine the exact size of the hole, and then to saw out a new hole that is 1/4 inch bigger on all sides. If there is framework or wiring nearby, you must exercise extreme caution when cutting.
Step 4: Wire Your Recessed Light
After dismantling the housing, you can begin connecting the electrical components. A recessed light has three wires: one black, one white, and one green. One is the “hot” or “live” wire (black), one is “neutral” (white), and one is “ground” (green). Put a wire nut on the wires so they can’t get unplugged from the outlet. When finished, the green wire should be attached to the electrical box’s green screw. When finished, the black wire should be attached to the black screw on the electrical box. Connect the wires and then screw in the recessed lighting.
Step 5: Insert the Light Into the Ceiling
Wall-mountable LED light strips provide a source of illumination. They rarely fall off the wall, but a mount or holder is recommended if you intend to relocate them frequently. This will reduce the risk of breaking the light strips.
Step 6: Attach the Baffle and Trim
The baffle and trim can be fastened after the new housing has been installed. A baffle is a piece of metal or plastic installed between the lamp’s casing and its lightbulb to control the beam of illumination. The housing’s trim is a purely cosmetic addition, hiding any rough edges.
Step 7: Screw in Your Light Bulb
Once the housing has been taken off, the light bulb can be installed. It’s important to replace your recessed light bulb with one of the right wattage. An improperly used light bulb poses a fire hazard.
Step 8: Turn the Power Back On
It’s time to turn on the recessed lighting again now that the new housing has been installed. Before turning on the power, be sure the new housing has passed a circuit test. It’s time to relax in your newly renovated quarters after you’ve made sure the new housing is operational. Read on to learn more about replacing a recessed light housing.
Frequently Asked Question
How Do You Remove a Light Mounting Bracket?
It’s simple to remove a bracket holding a lamp. To begin, take the light fixture down a notch by unscrewing its screws. Two or three screws should be located around the perimeter of the lamp. The bulb can be extracted from the housing by loosening the screws holding it in place. If you find one around its perimeter, detach the metal ring from the lamp’s housing. If you’ve already taken the light out of its housing, you can remove the mounting bracket by unscrewing the screws that hold it in place.
How Do You Remove Ceiling Light Covers?
There are a few factors to think about before removing the covers from your ceiling lights. It all depends on the kind of light cover and the screws that are holding it in place. With a regular screwdriver, you can remove any screws that are easy to get to.
How Do You Remove a Light Fixture Cover?
Lighting fixture covers are typically easy to remove. Still, this isn’t always the case and can change based on the lamp in question. The lid can be taken off by simply unscrewing it in most circumstances.
Conclusion
You should now be able to remove the previous recessed light housing with ease. Make sure you have everything you need before you start, and go slowly to avoid scratching the new housing. Afterward, take pleasure in the room’s newfound aesthetic appeal following its installation.
