July 2021 - Whitt Inspections, LLC

How To Change or Replace a Light Fixture in Your Home

Since we were kids, we’ve been warned about the dangers of messing around with electrical outlets. So if you’re having some reservations about how to replace a light fixture, rest assured, it’s not just you!

There are plenty of reasons why you may need to install a new light in your house. Maybe you’re taking up an interior design project. Or maybe you don’t get enough light in a certain room in your house.

Whatever the case may be, the first thing you need to do is make sure you have the right tools and the right instructions on how to install a light fixture.

A word of caution: Some areas require permits to even replace a light fixture. So make sure you are aware of the rules in your area, prior to attempting any light fixture replacement project.

RELATED: IS YOUR HOME FIRE SAFE?

How To Replace a Light Fixture In 4 Easy Steps

The good news is that the steps for replacing almost any light fixture are universal. Even though your new light will come with its own instructions, the same process can be copied no matter where you’re replacing a light in your home.

Expect ceiling fans— those are a different story.

So use this as your official guide for how to install a ceiling light!

What You’ll Need:

Screwdriver
New light fixture
Screws and Wire Connectors (these typically come with your new light)
Ladder
Wire Stripper (maybe)

Step 1: Turn Off The Lights

No— not just the light switch. For optimal safety, we recommend going to your circuit breaker and turning off the electricity right from the source.

This can turn into a duo project, too. If your circuit breaker isn’t labeled, this is the perfect time to get that done. Just turn on the lights in your house and turn off one breaker at a time. This helps you to see which breaker turns off which lights.

As you go through, make sure to properly label them for each room. Packing tape and a magic marker work perfectly for now.

Once you find the breaker for the room you want to replace a light fixture, flip it off. Make sure to turn off the light switch in the room, too!

Step 2: Unscrew The Old Light

A word of advice: if you’re replacing a ceiling light, your ladder needs to be tall enough. Working from underneath the light won’t work. You’ll need to be able to see inside the ceiling where it’s attached.

Once you’re up there, grasp the ceiling light with your palm to keep it steady. As you begin to unscrew the light, you’ll notice it will still be attached by only the wires.

Pro-Tip: To make your life easier, you may want to wear some type of utility belt so you can easily throw the screws somewhere so that your hands are free.

Your light may also be attached to the ceiling with caulk. If that’s the case, use your screwdriver or a utility knife to pry the material away from the ceiling.

Now that you can see inside the electrical box, remove the connectors and untwist the wires. You can do this by hand. There may also be a screw attaching the light to the metal bracket. You’ll need to remove that with your screwdriver.

Sometimes when you replace a light fixture, the one you purchased will come with a new bracket. We recommend using that to make sure your new light fits properly. Your fixture’s instructions will have more details on the bracket.

It should be as simple as switching the old bracket, popping the new one in its place, and securing it with the provided screws.

Hanging a Chandelier

If you’re hanging something like a chandelier, make sure you measure how low you want it to hang first!

Here’s a great tip from the Wolberg Blog:

“A handy rule of thumb is that a chandelier should be 12 inches narrower than a table and have at least 48 inches of space from each of the room walls or edges. Hang a chandelier approximately 30 to 34 inches over a table with an 8-foot ceiling height.”

Some chandeliers can be heavy, so if it feels cumbersome consider making it a 2-person job.

Step 3: Connect the Wires— Properly

This is the part that freaks some people out.

As we mentioned, no matter what type of light you buy or where you buy it (Home Depot, Amazon, or Wal-Mart), the instructions are going to be the same.

Still, you should read the light manufacturer’s instructions first. On the off chance that you didn’t get them (or you lost them), here’s what they probably said:

Twist the black (hot) wire to the black wire in the electric box.
Connect the white (neutral) wire to the white wire in the electric box.
Twist the green/copper (ground) wire to the green/copper wire in the electric box.

You can learn more about the difference between hot, ground, and neutral wires here.

Your new wires may look frayed on the ends. This is okay, but just make sure they aren’t broken or you may have to make a new cut. From there, you just need to twist the wire to the ceiling wires and use the wire “nut” or connector to secure them in place.

Nowadays, you can depend on light manufactures to have the appropriate amount of the wire insulation (the black, white, and green/copper casings) stripped. However, if there’s not half an inch of exposed wire coming from your wires, then you’ll need to shave off some of the insulation with wire strippers. Check out the video below to see how to properly strip a wire.

NOTE: If you don’t see a green or bare copper wire coming from the ceiling, then you will usually have a metal box and see a green “grounding” screw. Be sure to wrap the green/copper wire on your new light under that green screw and tighten it. Bend the end of the grounding wire slightly into a “Shepard’s hook,” then place it under the screw, and use your screwdriver to seal it tight. The correct way to do this is make sure the direction of the wire under the screw will be in the same direction as how the screw turns, so it will tighten the wire in place as you turn the screw tighter.

Step 4: Close Up and Test It Out!

Now you’re going to gently fold the wires back into the ceiling canopy and screw the new light fixture into the bracket. You may also have a decorative nut for the outside of the light that needs to be screwed on for the finishing touch.

Then, just add in your light bulb of choice and any other potential light décor (such as a light chain), and voila— you have successfully replaced a light fixture!

Go back to your breaker box and turn the circuit breaker back on. Then you can flip on the light switch and watch your handy work come to light (everybody loves a good pun, right?).

Conclusion

We hope this helps all new (and old) homeowners easily replace a light fixture! Always be careful when you’re dealing with electrical units. If you never got a home inspection (or it’s been a few years) there’s no telling what

Speaking of home inspections… is it time for yours? Contact us for a quote!

NEXT: CUT ATTIC TRUSSES 101

July 28, 2021

Homeowner Resources

5 Ways To Reduce Your Electric Bill in Florida

As home inspectors, we’re always seeing home discrepancies that can cause your electric bill to skyrocket. So, if you want to learn how to reduce the electric bill all year round, stick around. We have a few tips up our sleeve that you’ve probably never heard of.

Living in Florida is living in actual paradise— but at a price.

Literally.

We know it gets hot in other states, but the Florida heat is relentless. You’ll only get a few breaks here and there throughout the year. This means your AC is on full blast continuously, causing your electric bill (and stress levels) to be on full blast as well.

Whether it’s summer, Florida winter, or spring, there are some small things around your house that can save you some money.

RELATED: SUMMER HOME MAINTENANCE TIPS

How To Reduce the Electric Bill in Your Florida Home

There are typical, simple ways to reduce an electric bill. You probably already know that blackout curtains, unplugging your devices, or turning off your ceiling fans when they’re not in use can make an impact.

But realistically, these small steps will save you— maybe $20 per year?

If you want to learn how to cut your electric bill in half (okay… maybe by a third), then you need to be paying attention to the stuff that eats up the most energy. This means paying attention to your thermostat, filters, and even your windows.

1. Adjust Home Temperatures

The rule of thumb for any homeowner is to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees. Of course, here in Florida, that might seem a little too warm. So, let’s say between 75-78 degrees Fahrenheit.

Did you know that if you have a programmable thermostat, you can automatically set your AC to adjust to this ideal temperature? Adjusting the temperature while you’re away at work is a great way to reduce your electric bill. Duke Energy even confirms, “For every degree the thermostat is set above 78, customers can save up to 10% on their cooling costs.”

And if you have pets, don’t worry— you only need to increase the temperature 3-5 degrees so it should still be comfortable for them.

If you work a 9-5, for example, you can auto-set your programmable AC to climb a few degrees at 9 a.m. To make sure the house cools down by the time you get home, you want to set your thermostat goes back to that 75-78 degree mark at 4 p.m.

Now, keep in mind that instructions vary depending on the type of thermostat you have. If you have a traditional thermostat like a White Rodgers, you can adjust the desired temperature for both systems — Heat and Cooling — by simply using the arrows. Some even allow you to program temperatures for certain days time and specific days of the week. Here’s a tutorial on how to adjust those settings.

If you have a fancy, updated programmable Smart Thermostat like the Honeywell 9000 the setup is pretty simple. Here’s a great video tutorial on how to use it:

Some more advanced thermostats, like the Nest or EcoBee can detect when you’re away or at home, and adjust accordingly. They may even offer energy savings adjustments based on your routine behavior. Pretty cool!

Adjust The Water Heater

Another way to lower your bill is to adjust your water heater. If you have a tank-style water heater, it has to continuously store and reheat water in its tank so that you have the luxury of taking a hot shower within minutes of turning on the showerhead. However, all the work to disperse warm water to your shower, sink, and dishwasher costs money.

By lowering the temperature on your water heater, you’ll use less energy which can save you money. Ideally, you want this temperature set at 120°F, as setting it any lower can cause sanitary and water quality issues.

And if you plan on going on vacation anytime soon, make sure to adjust the temperature on both your AC and the water heater! Just remember, that due to the high-humidity in our state, we do not recommend turning off the AC completely. A lot of people don’t realize that AC’s don’t just cool, they condition the air, which means they also dehumidify it, as well.

2. Replace AC Filters

If you want to know how to reduce the electric bill in a really effective way, replace those AC filters!

The filters in your home are meant to help your HVAC system running smoothly.

Your HVAC, if you didn’t already know, stands for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. Your filters support the HVAC because they trap debris that is in the air.

If your filter is too congested, then that will reduce airflow and thus, the efficiency of the system. Some of that debris may start slipping onto your HVAC coil, reducing the quality of your AC, heating, etc. And because your HVAC will be working so hard to clear the air (literally), it runs up your electric bill.

How often should you replace your filters to reduce your electric bill? It really depends.

The size of your home, your household, and the type of filter you have all play a role in frequency. For example, if you have pets, you probably need to replace them more often. And standard fiberglass filters need to be changed every 30-days, whereas some pleated filters can last 3-6 months. There are even media filters that can last up to a year without needing to be replaced. We recommend checking the manufacturers instructions to get a better idea of how often they should be changed. Generally, 30-90 days for most common filters is what we see.

3. Pay Attention To Washer & Dryer

Speaking of filters, you are cleaning out your dryer filter after every cycle… right?

Not only does a clean dryer protect you from house fires, but it also makes sure your dryer is working properly. If you’re noticing that your clothes still aren’t completely dry after an hour, it’s probably from dryer filter neglect (or it could mean the dryer vent is clogged).

When you constantly have to turn your machine on to dry the same load, you’re going to notice a spike in your electric bill.

More advanced dryers also have the option to auto-sense when your clothes are drying. Maytag recommends this feature because it saves you the guesswork and it’s energy-efficient.

Another way to recuse your electric bill is the washer. Try washing your garments in cold water. That way, you aren’t using the water heater as often and the energy spent heating and dispersing hot water is saved.

Also, make sure you adjust the load size for every wash so you aren’t using more energy. In fact, we recommend only washing when you have a full load. Running that thing uses up a ton of electricity. The less you have to use it, the better.

4. Lower Your Electric Bill in the Kitchen

The kitchen is a hive full of energy. From the oven to the dishwasher, there are so many ways to cut back on your electric spending in this room alone.

For starters, if you have a grill, try to use that instead of the oven when you can. The oven uses between 2,000 and 5,000 watts, which can run you about $5.85 per month.

That might not seem like a ton of savings, but paired with these other energy-suckers, it all really adds up.

The microwave is another tool you can cut back on using. Instead of using it to thaw your dinner meat, take out the meat a few hours before you’re ready to cook so it can thaw on the counter. We like free stuff!

Your dishwasher is another area where you can save a few bucks. Some towns actually have cheaper energy rates during “off-peak” hours. So consider washing your dishes at night when there’s less demand for energy use. Also, try not to use the heat dry feature too often (or at all).

And did you know that keeping your freezer or refrigerator full, requires less time to keep it cool? Packing frozen veggies, fruits, and meats help insulate the fridge so that it stays cool longer and uses less energy.

5. Insulate

The best method on how to reduce the electric bill is to insulate. Insulation regulates your home’s temperature. You might start noticing your home takes a while to cool down or heat up if you have poor insulation.

That extra effort to adjust your home’s temperature means— you guessed it— higher electrical bills.

Thankfully, there actually quite a few places in your home where you can boost your insulation usage:

Add insulation wrapping around hot water pipes where accessible. So much energy is lost through the pipe wall as it travels to the desired location. Plus, you’ll get a few degrees warmer water at the faucet without spending extra money.
Behind electrical outlets using electrical outlet sealers. Just make sure you turn off the breaker and verify the outlet is not energized before removing the coverplate!
Outside your home with insulated paint

Hiring a company to insulate your walls and attic space might also be necessary depending on how good (or bad) your home’s insulation is.

You can use this online tool by The U.S. Department of Energy to see if you have the right amount of insulation based on where you live.

Conclusion

So those are all of our tips on how to reduce the electric bill in your Florida home! As always, if you’re in the market to buy a home, hiring a home inspector can help you pre-determine inconsistencies like poor insulation or a busted water heater. Contact us for a quote!

July 14, 2021

Florida’s Professional Home Inspector™

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Stephen@WhittInspections.com

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