iii Easy Ways to Remove a Cleaved Light Bulb

Safely remove broken light bulbs from fixtures

Introduction

We've all had a calorie-free bulb break when replacing a burned out one. We'll show you a couple of means to remove a broken lite seedling from a light socket.

Tools Required

Materials Required

  • ane/2" ten i/2" x 6" stick
  • hot glue
  • Light bulb lubricant
  • Potato

Beware the Broken Light Seedling

Removing a cleaved light bulb from a screw-shell lamp holder can be unsafe if yous don't solve two issues: First, how practise yous know the electricity is really off if the fixture or lamp holder is controlled by a uncomplicated on-off switch (or a pull chain)? Second, how do you get the broken light seedling base out of the lamp holder without cutting your hand or dissentious the inside of the lamp holder?

Removing a Broken Lite Bulb

When a light seedling is stuck in its socket, the culprit is unremarkably corrosion between the socket and the seedling'south metal base. This is the most common outdoors and in clammy places like basements and bathrooms.

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Project step-by-step (v)

Step ane

Check for Voltage

broken lightbulb

If you take a bulb that won't budge, put on heavy gloves and middle protection. Brand certain the light switch is off, then check the base of operations with a non-contact voltage detector just to exist certain, especially if you live in an sometime business firm. When an electrical field is present, the voltage detector volition both wink a light and emit an aural signal.

Pace 2

Grab the Cleaved Base with a Irish potato

grab broken lightbulb piece with a potato

And then become ahead and twist as hard equally y'all like. Don't worry near breaking the bulb. In fact, if the bulb just won't turn, your next step is to break it intentionally. Concur a screwdriver tip against the bulb and requite the handle a firm whack with a hammer. This leaves the bulb'southward metal base in the socket.

Ofttimes, you can unscrew the base past inserting pliers and holding the jaws open every bit you lot plow. But a tater volition work too: Round the end of the potato with a knife. Support the low-cal fixture and plunge a spud into the lamp holder. The drinking glass bits and debris will demark upward with the potato, making a good lock on the lamp base as you twist the bulb out.

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Pace 3

Grab the Cleaved Base of operations with a Needle-Nose Pliers

grab the broken lightbulb base with needle nose pliers

If neither of those methods piece of work, utilise needle-nose pliers to remove the bulb. Firmly grab the bulb's metal base and plough, but avert damaging the light fixture's metal screw-shell lamp holder. To avoid dissentious the light fixture'due south metal screw-crush lamp holder, bend the metal rim slightly inwards and twist out the bulb.

Stride 4

For Desperately Corroded Bulbs

exterior stuck light bulb

If your bulb base is actually stubborn, utilize hot mucilage and a 1/two x 1/2-in. stick of wood. Apply a heavy blob of hot glue to a stick and press it into the broken bulb's base of operations. If the glue doesn't make full the base, inject glue into any voids. Let the glue cool for five minutes and turn the stick to screw out the base.

Pace 5

Prevent Stuck Bulbs

prevent stuck lightbulbs with bulb lubricant

Save yourself all this hassle in the hereafter past applying a special lubricant such every bit Seedling EZ to the new seedling. (Ordinary lubricants like WD-40 or petroleum jelly are not recommended.) Coat the threads of the new bulb with a special lubricant designed for calorie-free bulbs. The blanket inhibits corrosion and makes futurity removal much easier.

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Originally Published: February 07, 2019