Our ceiling fan had a lightbulb break clean off. I mean there is *no* glass left- just the screwbulb base. I can't get around it with pliers. How else might I get the base out of the socket?
2006-07-09 14:26:15 · 17 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
A potato won't work if the glass is all broken off.
Turn off the power.
Insert a small screwdriver between the base of the bulb & the socket. Pry genntly until you can get a pair of needle nose to grip the base of the bulb.
2006-07-09 14:30:42 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
FIRST THE REMEDY... THEN PREVENTION!!
1) First and foremost, make sure the electric power is off. If you can't determine which circuit the fixture is on, turn off ALL circuits.
2) Put down a tarp to catch any remaining broken glass from the old bulb.
3) Leather gloves are preferred if you have to touch the broken bulb base.
4) Wear eye protection, especially if you are working on an overhead fixture. A hat might also help keep glass off your head!
There are two ways to take out the bulb's base...
Way 1
Using both hands, insert the pliers as far into the broken base as you can.
Spread the handles apart, exerting force against the sides of the bulb base with the tips of the pliers, and rotate counter-clockwise (the pliers, I mean).
Continue turning until the base is out. If you meet resistance, turn base back in slightly and then back out. The idea is to remove the broken bulb base, not break the fixture.
If the first method doesn't work, try this:
Way 2
CAREFULLY insert a small screwdriver or awl between the bulb base and the socket. Bend the bulb base SLIGHTLY INWARD, just enough to allow the needlenose pliers to get a grip.
Hold the pliers firmly and begin to turn the base out, counterclockwise. You will probably meet some resistance. When you do, turn the base back in slightly, then out again. The trick is to work the base out, not break the fixture.
Prevention... DON'T OVERTIGHTEN YOUR BULBS
If you follow this simple, commonsense guideline, you will probably never have to remove another broken bulb (unless you do it for other people)!
When you replace a bulb, turn the bulb in just until you feel slight resistance. Turn the switch on. If the bulb lights without flickering, you are DONE. Do not turn the bulb any further!
If bulb has not lit, turn switch back off, turn bulb a quarter turn, and try again. Do this until the bulb lights. Never screw in a bulb so tightly that it bottoms out.
2006-07-09 14:31:29 · answer #2 · answered by Twinkerbell 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Remove Broken Light Bulb
2016-12-08 19:12:34 · answer #3 · answered by molinari 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First of all, you shouldn't be using pliers to try and get the bulb out, because there's still electricity in the line and you could get the shock of your life!
What you could do is to get some non-conductive material like a plastic or rubber sheet. Ensure that it's totally dry. Stand on a wooden stool and hold the socket end with the material while you cover the bulb end in the material too and gently unscrew the bulb.
If this proves difficult, you might as well call in a professional. No sense in risking life and limb over a couple of bucks, is there?
Cheers,
Rameses
2006-07-09 15:17:35 · answer #4 · answered by Raymond 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
needle nose is less messy. Just grab the lip of the ex-bulb, pull in a little to a good grip. Bending it slightly will also reduce tension. Don't over bend the lip, then you make it harder to unscrew. It will come right out from there. Just unscrew using need nose until you can grab the lip with your fingers and finish it.
Precautions.
Turn off power
Wear eye protection/do not look directly up into the socket. There are likely to be tiny glass fragments. Ones too small to see but big enough to bother the eye for days.
2006-07-09 14:34:00 · answer #5 · answered by draciron 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First make sure the power is off then peel a small potatoe. Wedge the potatoe as far into the broken socket and turn till it's unscrewed!
2006-07-09 14:40:57 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put on two gloves - first a leather gardening glove. Over that pull one of those yellow rubber dishwashing gloves. They're great for grabbing what's left of a lightbulb.
2006-07-09 14:32:17 · answer #7 · answered by Snance 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This has happened to me before, and I tried the pliers and couldn't get it out either. So I thought I'd try a pair of tweezers, and sure in it worked. The tweezers are alot thinner than a pair of pliers so if fits into the space alot easier. What you do is grab the base of the buld just one side not the whole thing than you just twist it off, and then it should come right out of the light buld hole.
2006-07-09 15:00:45 · answer #8 · answered by jrtcatlover05 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've heard that you should push a potato (uncooked) into what's left of the bulb and try turning it that way. Not sure if it will really work since there's no glass left. Good luck!
2006-07-09 14:31:24 · answer #9 · answered by andeygirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Shut off the power and shove a half of a potato on the broken piece and unscrew it that way
2006-07-09 14:38:08 · answer #10 · answered by danielle t 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋