Owning a home requires a lot of maintenance. That list of maintenance needs is long and if not completed, can become expensive. Basic home maintenance can range from changing a lightbulb to changing the air filter in your HVAC system. Also, it can mean changing the batteries in your smoke detectors. Regardless, you should have a checklist of regularly scheduled home maintenance and how to conduct the maintenance. For example, changing a light bulb can be tricky if you don’t know how to remove the light cover. How to remove ceiling light cover with no screws? Typically, there are six types of light covers with no screws, which means they are attached in other ways.
Let’s take a look below at what you can use to remove a light cover that has no screws.
What Tools Will I Need
Removing your ceiling light cover will require some tools. Let’s take a look below at what you can use.
- Utility Knife – Simply cut around the edges of the cover until it breaks off. Keep the knife blade angled away from the wires that are behind the cover. You can unscrew the light cover once you are done.
- Pry Bar – Use a pry bar or another flat tool that can give you leverage to pry the light cover off. Be careful not to push too far in that you end up cutting the wires.
- Needle Nose Pliers – Use your pliers and twist them back and forth around the edges of the light cover. As you do this, the light cover should come loose.
- Hammer or Chisel – Lightly tap your chisel around the edges of the light cover until it pops off.
- Dremel Tool – If necessary, use a Dremel tool to cut the edges of the light fixture. Work slowly around the edges so you do not accidentally cut the electrical wiring or cords underneath the light cover.
What Types Are There?
Believe it or not, there are a variety of light fixture ceiling covers that do not have screws. Plastic ceiling light covers, bathroom light fixture covers, ceiling light fixtures, and flush-mounted light covers are just a few examples. Let’s review how you can remove each one of them.
- Spring-loaded – This cover is attached to the base of the light fixture with a small metal spring. Also, it is considered the most common ceiling light cover. You simply push up on the bottom of the cover to release the spring and remove the cover.
- Clip mechanism – This type of cover has small clips that lock the cover in place. Simply push down on one side of the clip as the other side opens. Once this occurs, the cover can be removed.
- Notch or groove mechanism – Take your pry bar and slide it under the light cover. Then gently pry down on the cover so it pops off. Be careful not to push the pry bar in too far to avoid damaging the wiring.
- Slotted connector – In this case, you might need a special tool such as a putty knife to remove the cover. You will want to take the putty knife and pry it up on the slotted connector. If this doesn’t work, try using your needle nose pliers and twist them back and forth on the slotted connector until the cover is loose.
- Threaded retainer – You will first need to remove the glass shade or diffuser by unscrewing it from the base. Then you will loosen the retainer with a flat-head screwdriver. Once this has happened you can pull the light cover down and off.
- Flush mount – There will be a small lever or switch on the ceiling. Typically, it is located behind the light cover. Press down on your lever/switch and gently pull up on the light cover. Do this with your fingers so that nothing damages the wiring behind it. Also, do this until the cover pops off.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know how to remove a ceiling light cover without screws, you can look into some other light bulb scenarios. For example, what causes a lightbulb to explode? This would be left up to the manufacturer and how they created the bulb.
Next, if you ever ventured down the path of using a smart bulb, you will want to know how to reset them. In some cases, they might get confused and stop working. This simply means that you need to reset them. Be sure not to call out an electrician to swap out your light bulbs just because.
Lastly, while you are on the topic of safety and hiring a licensed electrician to complete your projects, have them go over the best ways to keep your kids safe from your electrical outlets. Installing tamper-resistant outlets to keep your children and family safe.
When Do I Call A Professional?
Removing a ceiling light cover that does not have any screws can be fairly easy. However, some homeowners do not have a ladder or the care to climb a ladder. If this is the case, you will want to reach out to your local licensed electrician. Additionally, call on your local home inspection team. They can inspect your entire electrical system so that you are aware of any electrical needs before the licensed electrician comes out. Also, they can recommend a reputable licensed electrician.
Conclusion
When you are dealing with something regarding your lights, it is a good idea to hire a licensed electrician. You never know where or how the wires are placed behind the ceiling cover of your light fixtures. Your local licensed electrician will be able to check to ensure the power is off to the lights and safely remove the ceiling light cover. Consequently, they can then replace your light bulbs. Call on All Coast Home Inspections for an electrical system and home inspection in Houston, TX.
