How to Replace a Fluorescent Light Cover, Tube, or Fixture

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Plus, learn how to install a ceiling box for a new light fixture in its place
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Fluorescent lights are a common choice for long-lasting, energy-efficient lighting, but they still need to be repaired or removed at times. This step-by-step guide will explain how to remove a fluoro light cover, tubes, and the entire fixture (complete with the ballast). Plus, we'll explain how to install a ceiling box that supports a ceiling fan or a new light fixture in its place. We also spoke to expert handyman Allen Lee and included his safety tips for removing fluorescent lights.

How to Remove a Fluorescent Bulb: Quick Guide

Flip the wall switch to shut the fluorescent light off. Flip the clips that secure the panel or wraparound light cover in place to release the cover and then pull it down. Rotate the tube 90 degrees in either direction and then pull down on one end to release it. The other end should slide out easily.

Section 1 of 4:

How to Remove a Fluorescent Light Cover

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  1. Wait a couple of minutes to let the light cover and tube cool down before attempting the handle either part.
  2. Avoid using a metal ladder, Lee cautions, as metal conducts electricity. A fiberglass ladder will help protect you from electrocution if anything goes wrong when you're working on the light fixture. [2]
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  3. There are two main types for long, straight, fluorescent tubes: the wraparound and the drop ceiling panel. In most cases, you can easily remove each one without using any extra tools.
    • A wraparound cover protrudes from the ceiling and encases the light tubes. To remove it, unhook the clips at either end (or, if it's secured with screws, use a screwdriver or drill to loosen and remove them). Next, gently push the cover away from you, and then pull the side nearest to you down. The other side should come loose easily. [3]
    • A drop ceiling panel is held in place by clips on one side and swings down on a hinge. To unlock it, rotate the clips and then push upward gently on the unclipped side of the panel to loosen it. Let that side swing down and then lift the opposite side off its hinges to completely detach it. [4]
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Section 2 of 4:

How to Replace a Fluorescent Tube Light Buulb

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  1. Fluorescent tubes are secured by pairs of pins, which fit in slots in the light fixture. Rotating the tube will orient its pins vertically in the slots so you can remove it. [5]
  2. Lee recommends removing the tube by pulling one end down, after which the other end will slip free easily. Fluorescent tubes are long, so keeping a hold on them is tricky at times. Have a friend on hand to catch the tube once it is free. [6]
  3. Line the pins on the ends of the tube up with the slots in the fixture and slide them into place. Rotate the tube 90 degrees in either direction to lock it. [7]
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Section 3 of 4:

How to Remove a Fluorescent Light Fixture

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  1. Locate the circuit breaker in your home and find the circuit for the room containing the light fixture. Then flip it into the "off" position. [8]
  2. The tubes and cover need to be out of the way so you can access the fixture’s internal components. Unclip and detach the cover and rotate the tubes until they slide out of their sockets. Then set them aside (or safely discard them if you're not going to use them again) [9]
  3. This cover sits between the tubes and the ballast (the fixture's ceiling mount) and is typically made of metal. To remove it, grab onto it and tug it down. If it doesn’t come loose right away, pry at different spots around the cover’s edge until it snaps off the fixture. [10]
    • Some covers have a twistable wingnut holding them in place. Turn the wingnut counterclockwise until you're able to pull the cover down.
  4. To use a voltage detector , touch the detector’s tip to the wire. It will light up if it detects an electrical current. Some detectors, similar to multimeters , have colored leads you press to the exposed metal ends of the wires to test the current. [11]
    • If the detector indicates an active current, go back and check the circuit for that room in your home to make sure it's off. Someone in the household may have turned it back on or you may not have disengaged it.
    • Testing the voltage may seem like an unnecessary step if you've already shut the breaker off, but Lee recommends it to ensure your safety. You can never be too careful around electricity! [12]
  5. Upon removing the cover, you will see a bundle of wires held together by plastic caps. Twist the caps counterclockwise. They come off the wires easily. Then, separate the wires connecting the light fixture from the wires attached to your home’s electrical circuit. [13]
    • Screw the caps back onto the individual wires extending from the ceiling. This will prevent them from sparking when you turn the electricity back on.
  6. Look for a plain metal screw securing a single wire to the fixture’s base. The wire is usually green or copper-colored. Turn the screw counterclockwise with a Phillips head screwdriver to remove it. [14]
    • The ground wire distributes electricity in the circuit, preventing electrical shocks when you touch the wires.
  7. Hold on to the ballast with one hand and use a screwdriver or a drill to turn the bolts counterclockwise. After loosening the screws, lower the ballast slightly and then gently pull the ceiling wires out of the holes on the top. Once this is done, the fluorescent light fixture will be completely detached. [15]
    • Have someone else hold the fixture as you loosen the screws, if possible. That way, you have both hands free to work on the screws.
    • If the fixture is stuck, you may need to cut into the drywall a little bit. Use a sharp utility knife to make small cuts until you can get the bolts out of the ceiling without ripping it out and causing more damage.
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Section 4 of 4:

How to Install a Ceiling Box for a New Light Fixture

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  1. An "old work" ceiling box typically holds up to 6 lb (2.7 kg), so for heavier fixtures – like a ceiling fan – opt for a ceiling box attached to a steel extendable brace. [16]
    • Most braces extend up to 24 in (61 cm) to span the distance between joists and provide a sturdy base for the new fixture to hang from.
  2. To do that, hold the ceiling box you selected up to the hole and trace around it with a pencil. Then, cut out the circle you drew with a sharp utility knife. [17]
  3. To install an "old work" box, simply insert it in the hole and tighten the screws with a screwdriver or a drill to activate the swing clips that grip the drywall. [18] And you're done! If you need to install a ceiling box with a brace , follow these steps:
    • After you remove the fluorescent light ballast, you'll see a hole in the ceiling with a bundle of wires dangling out of it. Buy a boroscope and feed it up into that hole and use its camera to locate the joists that frame the ceiling and hold up the drywall. Additionally, find out where the wires are stapled to the joists. [19]
    • Look at the ceiling box. It should be attached to a bracket, which in turn attaches to the brace. Remove the screws and nuts holding the ceiling box to the bracket to separate them, then pull the bracket off the brace. [20]
    • Punch 2 precut holes out of the bottom of the ceiling box with a mallet or small hammer and tug the cut-out metal off with a pair of pliers. The ceiling wires will dangle through these openings. [21]
    • Slip the brace into the hole and rotate it to extend it until it meets resistance. When it's snug in place, stop rotating it. Use your boroscope to see whether the brace ends are piercing or pushing against the wires stapled to the joists. If they are, adjust the brace to sit above or behind those wires. [22]
    • Push the bracket back onto the brace, then feed the wires through the holes you punched out in the ceiling box. Next, align the box with the screws on the bracket and twist the nuts onto the screws to secure the box and bracket back together. [23]
  4. With the appropriate ceiling box in place, you can install a new light fixture or a ceiling fan . Remember to keep the electricity turned off during the installation process and only restore power when the fixture is fully assembled.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I remove a ceiling light fixture if there are no visible screws?
    Allen Lee
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Allen Lee is a Home Improvement Specialist and the Owner of Honest Lee Handyman Services, a licensed and insured handyman business servicing Sacramento, California, and surrounding areas. Working with homeowners and businesses to get their small repairs done in a timely and efficient manner, Honest Lee Handyman Services provides gutter and dryer vent cleaning along with fixture, fence, drywall, and toilet repairs.
    Allen Lee
    Home Improvement Specialist
    Expert Answer
    The light may be using a spring clip. To remove it, get your fingernails between the light and the ceiling and pull it down. It should come down an inch or two. Then, pinch the spring clips inside the fixture and the light should come down the rest of the way.
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      Tips

      • Fix buzzing fluorescent lights by replacing the old ballast. Fluorescent fixtures tend to last a long time, but when they make a buzzing noise, that's a sign there's an issue with the ballast. Save the tubes, as they may still be functional.
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      • Fluorescent tubes are relatively easy to remove, but the removal process can vary depending on the style of the light fixture. Refer to your owner's manual for the fixture for tips on how to successfully (and safely) remove and replace the tube.
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      • Replace the fluorescent light ballast with a ceiling box to try alternative lighting options, like a pendant or a ceiling fan. This is an easy change that we explain how to do above.
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      References

      1. ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
      2. ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
      3. ↑ https://youtu.be/JOfTCPf3618?si=sEdHnH87jwFbEHVd&t=14
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/poeMCSif38Q?si=HXiXbr44Zx8levUd&t=37
      5. ↑ https://youtu.be/R_n1cGOzp7Y?si=E3rjqpncvH1DOoId&t=60
      6. ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_n1cGOzp7Y&feature=youtu.be&t=103
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/ca9NJNCYQvA?si=0NeTtS6dMVW8NOjs&t=100
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/O99gBgDPJlU?si=EqhNdDKXDhH8X43F&t=33
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdWmFJSV9R0&feature=youtu.be&t=111
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aNhx-pru1A&feature=youtu.be&t=113
      3. ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/O99gBgDPJlU?si=oJ1jtZ-1WwPMsldx&t=160
      5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pdWmFJSV9R0&feature=youtu.be&t=147
      6. ↑ https://youtu.be/pdWmFJSV9R0?si=0_3BSD33iT3b7CzS&t=190
      7. ↑ https://youtu.be/GCN96n8ZBXE?si=cRMVtAFw1v7M1bkU&t=14
      8. ↑ https://youtu.be/GCN96n8ZBXE?si=PeFQRDKtDehWTDxG&t=205
      9. ↑ https://youtu.be/5co-A4v3sNo?si=Yk-S3l1kqiMj14uC&t=111
      10. ↑ https://youtu.be/GCN96n8ZBXE?si=7o6C8FmQYZp7RdXU&t=61
      11. ↑ https://youtu.be/GCN96n8ZBXE?si=iP_70bAawnXPv5aX&t=125
      12. ↑ https://youtu.be/GCN96n8ZBXE?si=6zsFYeIi9xB5fwS3&t=358
      13. ↑ https://youtu.be/GCN96n8ZBXE?si=wuD9UEDs6XP1aCS0&t=249
      14. ↑ https://youtu.be/GCN96n8ZBXE?si=qcOHHkgpibXhQZIy&t=380
      15. ↑ Allen Lee. Home Improvement Specialist. Expert Interview. 10 July 2020.

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