I have a hampton bay ceiling fan with a bulb base stuck in it. I took the glass bulb off and attempted to unscrew it with a pliers but the metal is so soft that is just bends in and does not give me a grip to unscrew this base of the bulb. So now the metal is all bent in the fixture. How do I get this out of the fan fixture? Do I drill into it? and then how turn the bulb base to unscrew it? My concern about drilling in is that I might damage the fixture of the fan beyond the bulb base. Any suggestions?
2007-12-06 02:52:32 · 10 answers · asked by Lighthearted 3 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
First turn off ALL power to the light fixture. I know you will get the suggestion to use a potato, and that's just silly.
I have found that using a lineman's pliers, or any pliers you can jam into the base works the best. What you are trying to do is use the sharp edges or the pliers to grab the sides of the socket and turn it out.
If that doesn't work, take a screw driver and gently pry the bulb base away from the fixture socket. Then use a needle nose pliers to curl the bulb base metal. It will probably break off, but keep going around the base removing more metal until it loosens. These can be a pain, but if you are patient, you will get it out.
2007-12-06 02:59:06 · answer #1 · answered by Bare B 6 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I hope you are making sure the electric is OFF while you are trying this. My husband usually is able to get these bases off using needle nose pliers. Just make sure you are turning it the right way. It might take a lot of patience and mental breaks so you don't get mad and rip the whole thing off the ceiling. Don't drill it for heaven sakes...your going to ruin your ceiling fan. Instead of gripping the base with the needle nose pliers....place them inside the metal base and spread them apart so they are tight against the sides...then try turning the pliers like they are the light bulb. This has worked for me.
2007-12-06 03:30:57 · answer #2 · answered by Grandma of 2 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All the answers here are good answers. But make sure the electricity is off by the light switch and the breaker in the breaker box or fuse box. And you can use a pair of pliers or needles pliers to get a grip on the metal part of the bulb, BUT MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE RUBBER HANDLES ON THEM. This won't be as messy as the potato idea.
2007-12-06 03:03:58 · answer #3 · answered by Joseph K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try to straighten out bent up bulb base. make sure power is off. Try a small potato. Jam it in the socket and turn. It sounds like a joke but sometimes it works.
2007-12-06 20:56:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the easiest way..cut the power off to the fixture. get a potatoe/cut in half, and then push it into where the bulb is and start unscrewing it. tried it and it worked. just remember
afterwards to wipe down the area where the bulb was cause it might have wetness from the potatoe still there....
2007-12-06 02:58:07 · answer #5 · answered by mesmerizeatnite 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With the power off !!! , use needle nose pliers ,grip the metal part of the bulb and unscrew it by twisting the pliers ,this should make the metal bulb base become smaller allowing for it to come out of the fixture...
2007-12-06 02:58:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
my maintence man used a wad of duck tape and stuck it in the bulb socket and then pushed in ward and turned it like a light bulb...
good luck
2007-12-06 03:01:01 · answer #7 · answered by De 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i know that this sounds funny, but has worked for me many times what you do is peel a potato and screw it up in the metal part and turn as hard as you can and it should come right out
2007-12-06 03:01:49 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Make sure your electricity is off on the breaker switch and the try a potato to remove. It works!
2007-12-06 02:57:53 · answer #9 · answered by MAttsprat 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Cut a Potato in half, push it on there, and turn the potato. It will unscrew the bulb.
2007-12-06 02:57:47 · answer #10 · answered by Devon R 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋