Next time you change a lightbulb in your ceiling-mounted light fixture, aka boob light in your hallway, bathroom, or kitchen please do yourself a favor and check for something that you may have overlooked in the past – heat damage. The use of incandescent lightbulbs with high wattage is a common culprit for the damaged ceiling light fixtures that are sometimes seen in older homes.
How Can a Ceiling Light Fixture Develop Heat Damage?
Sockets accept bulbs of many different wattages, so a 75-watt bulb could have been used in a light fixture that was only meant for a 60-watt bulb. Since the closed design of many ceiling-fixtures traps the heat, the brighter bulb generated more than the ceiling fixture was designed for, and that leads to damage. Fortunately, it’s relatively simple to check for damage.
5 Common Signs of Heat Damage:
- Burned or melted plastic sockets
- Wires that are exposed or missing insulation
- Brown burn marks on the fixture housing
- White-colored wires that have turned brown
- Wires repaired with electrical tape and loose or damaged brackets.
If you see any of these telltale signs of heat damage it is a good idea to give us a call at Farryn Electric so that we can help diagnose the extent of the damage and install a safer light fixture for you and your family. Your safety is our #1 priority!
