filed in Daily Life
Fear of Changing Lightbulbs
Ever since I moved into my condo and realized I can’t reach the bulbs in the ceiling fixtures without being perched on my tip toes on the top ledge of the stepladder, I’ve gone easy on the lights. This is good news for the environment. When the halogen bulb blew in my wall sconce, I tried not to panic. This one isn’t so high up, but in struggling to get the bulb out, I cracked the glass shade. It’s times like these that I wish my dog was taller and good with her paws.
Photo by Christian Werner
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There are light bulbs in my house that I have never changed, and I’ve lived here for 11 years. They require a ladder. I try not to turn them on, ever.
That makes me feel so much better.
I relate to the height issue despite being tall and to the broken in socket syndrome which becomes epidemic at my place periodically. When a bulb burns out my heart beats faster, not in the good way.
A few days after my halogen bulb moment, a tall (6’3″) friend stopped by my place, and he was able to change the bulb without breaking a sweat (or needing a boost).
That’s why I don’t have cathedral ceilings in my house. I went with standard 9′ ones!!!
Even 9″ is high for me.
You can get a “light bulb grabber” for pretty cheap at any hardware store…my condo building has one for changing the outdoor lights (and for the upstairs folks with cathedral ceilings to borrow as necessary), and I think it cost us $15. For wall fixtures, I remove the cover to change the bulbs. Yes, it takes longer, but it saves me stretching and possible breakage. Also, make tall friends. I am about average, but with 9′ ceilings there are certain things I can’t reach (the top shelf of my cabinets – they go all the way to the ceiling – the light over the fridge, the light string on my patio). Fortunately, my best friend is 6’3 and can be bribed with beer and/or home-cooked food. 🙂
I wish I could’ve read your advice about removing the fixture before changing the bulb. That would have saved my glass shade.