Hanging light fixtures are advantageous because they’re out of the way and don’t have wires that clutter up the floor. However, they do have a major disadvantage in that they are difficult to fix or replace when they get broken. Rather than simply unplugging them and getting rid of them, you have to climb a ladder, unscrew them from the ceiling, and work directly with wire systems that are confusing if you’re not familiar with electrical systems.


Replacing a hanging light fixture is a moderate-skill task. If you have some experience with things like this, you’ll be fine. But if you’ve never worked with electrical wires or hanging fixtures, you might want to hire a professional. Here’s how to do it yourself:

Step 1: Important: Turn off power to the room at the circuit breaker panel. Once it’s off, use a voltage tester to make sure no power is still running into the room.

Step 2: With a sturdy ladder, remove the old fixture by unscrewing it from the ceiling and handing it down to the ground level.

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