How to change a light bulb!
What you need
A bulb
That’s it.
Changing a light bulb is such a simple job to do yourself and yet huge numbers of us don’t know how to do it… Well here you are, a step-by-step guide to changing a light bulb in seconds!
Step 1
Remove the lampshade or light cover if you can’t easily get to the light bulb. Be careful!
Step 2
Buy a replacement bulb! Sounds easy, and it is, but you need to buy the right bulb fitting for it to fit… The best way to find out what type of bulb you need is take out the dead bulb first. Take it with you to the shop, just to be sure, as there are different sizes and types available depending on the lamp or light fitting design.
Turn off the light, and make sure it is definitely in the off position to stop the chance of getting a shock. Make sure the bulb is cool, if it has only just blown then it could be very, very hot so give it a chance.
If you’re not sure what type of fitting you have then to remove the bulb try twisting the bulb ANTI-CLOCKWISE lightly until it unscrews completely. If it doesn’t easily unscrew then you probably have a bayonet fixture. To undo a bayonet you need to push the bulb lightly upwards into the fixture and it should move up. Then twist the bulb ANTI-CLOCKWISE and it will come free easily.
There are 2 types of fixture –
SCREW – Easy to spot because the metal bit at the bottom of the bulb has a screw-looking shape.
BAYONET – If it isn’t a screw bottom, then it’s probably a bayonet. This has a flat surface with 2 bits of metal sticking out at the sides, opposite each other. These literally slot into 2 grooves in the fitting, then you twist to clip the bulb in place.
Now go buy the right light bulb!
Step 3
Fitting the new bulb is just the reverse of removing it. Make you’ve turned the light off so you don’t get a massive beam of light in your face the moment you plug the new bulb in, trust me it’s not a good thing!
If you have a screw type fitting bulb then simply place the metal end into the light fixture and screw it in CLOCKWISE, applying a little upwards pressure to ensure the screw fits into the fitting correctly. Don’t do it up too tight, only until it stops! Test it and you’re done!
If you have a bayonet type fitting then you need to be a bit more careful. Try to line up the 2 metal points sticking out of the bulb with the 2 grooves in the fitting. Once they are in you’ll feel a definite click, so don’t force it. Usually once the bulb is in the grooves it will slide in and will have a springy feel as you push upwards into the fixture.
Simply push upwards, supporting the light fixture if necessary, then once it won’t move anymore twist it CLOCKWISE until it feels like it has clipped in. Test it out and you’re finished!
What you need
A brush
A long hose pipe
It’s important to keep your gutters clear, otherwise metal gutters will rust away and you’ll have water pouring down and causing all types of problems for you. It’s not too tricky to do them yourself, and it’s essential to get it sorted if you have a tree overhanging your property to avoid an expensive repair…
Step 1
Get a ladder! Make sure it’s safe, if you don’t feel confident enough to do it then don’t take any risks and get professional help.
Try not to rest your ladder on the gutter if you can avoid it.
Clear the gutter of leaves and dirt, get rid of the fine dirt too otherwise it will only speed up the build up and you’ll have to clean them more often.
Step 2
Get the hose and turn it on. Shove the hose down the pipe, if the pipe has bends then try to manoeuvre the pipe around the bends to get it nice and clear. Don’t give up immediately, a garden hose will get around most gutter pipe bends with a bit of help. The leaves should come out of the bottom of the pipe as the water pressure forces it clear.
If you find that the hose doesn’t clear the blockage then you may need to take a section of the gutter out to clear it. If you have metal pipes then this becomes more difficult as you may need to cut the pipe, if you’re unsure then it’s best to get it done by a professional.
How to put up a shelf
What you need
Screws (may be provided with the shelf – if not then don’t get screws too long, around 40mm)
Pencil
Masonry plugs (rawl plugs)
Masonry drill (2mm wider than the screw width)
Hammer
Spirit level
A shelf and brackets
Step 1
Decide where you want your shelf to go, and using the spirit level draw a line in pencil where you want the bottom of the shelf to go. Don’t draw too hard. Put 1 of the brackets on the line so that it lines up with where you want the shelf to sit. Hold the bracket up and draw through the holes where the screw goes, so you know where to drill. Leave about 5 inches of overhang at the end of the shelf.
Now do the same with the other bracket, leaving a gap between the 2 (depends on the length of your shelf). Remember to line this one up in the same way on the line you drew. Draw through the bracket holes.
Step 2
Get the drill out. Set it to drill clockwise and drill your holes where you marked earlier. Be a bit careful, if you’re drilling into plasterboard then there could be wiring inside, if in doubt use a no-contact current & voltage detector (cheap and useful) – simply turn the device on and bring it to the wall to see if it detects a current close (which means there could be wiring inside the wall).
Step 3
Once you’ve drilled your holes, put each of the masonry plugs into the holes and tap them gently in with a hammer so each is almost flat against the wall.
Step 4
Use a screw to put up 1 bracket in the top hole only so it hangs, and tighten it a little. Now do the same with the other bracket, and place the shelf on top to check it lines up using the spirit level again.
Step 5
Screw in the other screws and tighten them. Now place the shelf on the brackets and attach these to the brackets (this varies between designs, many are a short screw upwards into the shelf and the holes are already there - if there are no holes and the shelf is wood then you need to drill your own, mark where the bracket holes hit the wood with a pencil then remove the shelf and drill your holes). Admire your skills!
