Ways To Care for Home Light Fixtures

Interior light fixtures are an essential part of any home, especially as winter approaches and the northern hemisphere sees less sunlight. People need light to read, cook meals and perform other day-to-day activities. However, lighting fixtures are one of those things that tend to go unnoticed and unappreciated until they break or something else goes wrong with them, and the homeowner needs to call an electrician in Winnipeg. Here are some ways to care for home light fixtures before that happens.

Clean the Fixtures

There are many benefits to having clean light fixtures besides a more appealing appearance. One of the main benefits is that dust and other debris that builds up on the fixture can prevent the light from shining as bright as it could. While it may be tempting to purchase a new lightbulb with higher wattage when the previous one seems dim, this can be unnecessary and even harmful to older electrical systems.

Before heading to the store to purchase new bulbs, make sure that all the lighting devices you use are clean. While it is an unpleasant job, cleaning bugs from light fixtures is also very important since bugs are attracted to light and often get stuck in lighting equipment.

Stay Safe

When performing maintenance on your equipment, such as by changing a lightbulb or cleaning the surface of the fixture, there are some steps to take to keep yourself safe. Some things to keep in mind include:

• Unplugging the light from its power source prior to performing maintenance

• Wearing protective gloves or letting the lightbulb cool before handling

• Using a stepladder, rather than standing on an unstable chair or another piece of furniture, if you are unable to reach the fixture

Always consider contacting electrical repair services before performing maintenance that you are unsure about. While homeowners often think that repairing equipment themselves will save them money, a botched repair job can lead to more headaches and hassles down the road.

Research Before Cleaning

While we have established the importance of keeping light fixtures clean, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of safely cleaning them. An improper cleaning job can cause damage to lighting equipment, which is costly and may even pose a safety hazard.

Make sure that you have all the supplies you need before attempting to clean any device. Some of the supplies you might need include a ladder, soft towels, water, detergent and extra lightbulbs should you need to replace any. Having everything you need prior to starting the cleaning job helps ensure that you will not have to stop in the middle of cleaning to go purchase items.

Once you have all your supplies, make sure that your cloth or towel is appropriate for the materials you are cleaning and will not scratch the fixture. This is especially important when it comes to glass fixtures, as these easily scratch and attract lint.

Know Your Fixtures

Most lighting fixtures say what wattage of lighting you should use with them. Be aware of this when purchasing lightbulbs and using the fixture, as using a lightbulb that goes beyond the recommended wattage can cause damage to the fixture and may even pose a fire hazard. If it is safe to do so, place the back of your hand on the fixture when in use and if you find that it is becoming too hot, switch to a lower watt bulb or discontinue the use of the device. Ask an electrician if you are unsure whether or not to continue using a particular lighting fixture.

If you need to install a new lighting fixture or repair an existing one, contact Handyman Connection to speak with one of our representatives and let one of our qualified professionals assist you.