Quick tips for upgrading your recessed lights

Dissatisfied with the look of your recessed lights? Changing the trim is a quick way to refresh their style an the ambience of a room. Try the following quick tips for upgrading your your recessed lights with ease.

1. Replacing old trim

• Remove the existing trim and bulb and look up inside the metal housing for a sticker with the brand name, the model number and compatible trim styles.
• If you can't find this information, or the brand isn't available, take your old trim to a lighting store and look for matches.
• Most manufacturers have several different types and sizes of housing that will accept a variety of trim styles.
• Once you have the necessary parts, changing old, yellowed trim for new trim is simple.
• Just pull out the old trim and attach the new trim in the same hooks.

2. Installing eyeball style trim

• You can also replace standard trim with an eyeball-style trim that can be aimed in different directions.
• But installing this trim requires an extra step.
• First, turn off the switch and circuit breaker it's on and remove the bulb.
• Unscrew the wing nut that holds the base of the light in place and remove the socket.
• Then snap the socket into the top of the eyeball shroud and push the eyeball trim up into the can.
• Be sure to use the type of bulb recommended on the label in the new housing.

• Here's a quick fix for bulbs that burn out quickly, lights that flicker, or a light fixture that simply doesn't work even though there's power running to it.
• Turn off the power to the fixture and use a non-contact voltage tester to make sure the power is off.
• Then reach into the bulb socket with a flat-blade screwdriver and gently pry up on the tab that's centred at the bottom to restore good contact with the bulb.

Keep these quick tips in mind to help you enjoy better lighting.