Friday, June 3, 2011

I need help getting a broken light bulb out?

I have a light bulb that the glass came out of when it burned out. The glass came out without breaking at all. The bulb base is shorter than the fixture. The fixture is on the ceiling over the stairs and about 15-18 feet up. Its a standard home socket used in the USA for the last 50 years+. I tried using a potato on a pole, but not even close. Is there anything that can screw into that or am I stuck attempting a ladder, because the ladder cannot rest near enough I will have to stretch and risk life and limb to change it. I also have terrible balance.|||****TURN OFF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER TO THAT SOCKET!


#1 Measure the diameter of an existing light bulb screw part.


#2 Find a pole that is near the same size (paint roller extensions might be good). Put a damp rag over the top of the pole and insert the rag into the socket. Don%26#039;t forget which way to turn the pole.


#3 The damp rag should provide enough friction to help unstick this bulb end.|||I don%26#039;t see a way to do it without going up there with some pliers.|||The base is stuck (welded) to the socket. You probably won%26#039;t be able to get it loose without getting up there with a pair of needle nose pliers. You could try shaping the end of the pole to wedge into the base and twist it out.|||Cut a whole potatoe in half and push it into the bulb and turn it as you are taking the bulb out. Tape the potatoe to a long stick and stand on a stool or a small ladder and push it toward the bulb. Then throw it away.





Good Luck!|||Place ladder under light fixture. Get a strong plank of wood and place between step and ladder - stand on plank with pliers to remove the broken light part. You could also try long-handled tongs.|||Just get a whole new light fixture and hire a handyman to install it.|||TURN THE ELECTRICITY OFF before you try anything. If you have poor balance you don%26#039;t have any business on a ladder. If the potato trick isn%26#039;t working, you need to call a handyman or draft a teenager and pay him a few bucks to do the high work.|||The potato trick that Clown suggested works. I%26#039;ve used it.|||I would just carry a flashlight around.