How to Install a Kitchen Light Fixture
If your kitchen has a pre-existing light fixture in the ceiling, you can upgrade to a light more suited to your own personal preferences. Perhaps you want something more fancy or even something more practical. It can all be done easier than you might think. Just follow the simple steps listed and always keep safety in mind and before you know it, you’ll have your new kitchen light installed in no time.Things You'll Need
- New compatible light fixture
- Wire cutters
- Screwdrivers
- Cordless drill
- Wire strippers
- Wire nuts
- Voltage tester
- Ladder
- A friend to help
Go to your breaker panel and turn off the breaker to your kitchen light. If this is not already marked for you and your breaker panel is in a place where you cannot see the kitchen light go out, have a helper turn the breaker off for you, telling him when the kitchen light goes out. For safety reasons, you always want to have the electricity off when working with your light fixture.
Use a ladder following all safety rules and remove the pre-existing fixture from the ceiling. To save trips up and down the ladder, this is another good time to consider having a helper since you can simply hand him parts without having to worry about climbing back down with things in your hands.
Use a voltage tester to check for power. Even if the light went out when the breaker panel was turned off, you need to still check for power at the source. This will ensure that you’re working under safe conditions and all electricity to the area you’re working on is off.
Remove the wire nuts from the wire connections and remove all pieces of the old fixture. Assemble your new fixture by following the manufacturer’s directions included in the box. This can be done any place in your home that is convenient.
Connect the light fixture brace from the new light to the ceiling box with a drill or screwdriver. Connect the like-colored wires to each other and make the connections solid with the wire nuts. Now you can mount the new kitchen light fixture to the brace.
Install your new bulbs that either came with the new kitchen light fixture or ones that you have purchased. Install any extra fixtures that came with your lights depending on the design you picked out.
Now you’re ready to turn the breaker back on and enjoy your new lights. Have you or your partner turn the breaker back on at the panel and make sure your lights are working properly.
Comments
Post a Comment