Replace a light fixture
Swapping a fixture is easy to do and easy to do wrong. Switch off the breaker, test the wires, and support the fixture’s weight with a box rated for it. The video here looks at an older house where the wire insulation is only rated for a lower temperature than the fixture needs, which can cause overheating and a fire risk. Always check the fixture’s label for its wire rating.
If the wiring is old, cloth-covered, or brittle, you may need an electrician to repair or replace it. Fans are heavier and move, so a fan needs a fan-rated box; read our ceiling fan box rating guide first. For most fixtures, the same steps as replacing a light switch apply.
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- Build built-in bookshelves 16
- Tile a shower 11
- Build a shed 8
- Build a deck 7
- Tape and mud drywall 7
- Paint a room 6
- Patch a hole in drywall 6
- Install a backsplash 5
- Replace a light switch 5
- Change a furnace filter 4
- Frame a wall 4
- Install vinyl plank flooring 4
- Unclog a toilet 4
- Finish a basement 3
- Fix a garbage disposal 3
- Fix a leaky faucet 3
- Fix a sticking door 3
- Unclog a drain 3
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- Fix a running toilet 2
- Flush a water heater 2
- Install a GFCI outlet 2
- Install a dishwasher 2
- Install a smart thermostat 2
- Install baseboard trim 2
- Regrout tile 2
- Replace a kitchen faucet 2
- Replace a toilet 2
- Caulk a tub or shower 1
- Install a ceiling fan 1
- Replace a shower cartridge 1
- Replace an outlet 1