A broken bulb is not so difficult to replace but all you need is to be careful while doing it as it can prove to be dangerous if not done carefully. Before starting the process, cut off the power of that fixture. Cut the power of the circuit breaker of that bulb and if the bulb is a part of a table lamp then cut all the power supply to this lamp.

Next put on a pair of protective leather gloves in hands and safety glasses to protect your eyes especially if you are working on an overhead fixture. A hat also helps in keeping any remaining glass off your head. You may also put down a tarp to catch any remaining broken glass from the old bulb if you are removing a broken light bulb from a ceiling or wall light fixture.

With the help of both the hands, insert the pliers as far as possible into the broken base. Spread the handles apart and exert force against the sides of the bulb base with the tips of the pliers and rotate the pliers in the counter-clockwise direction.

With this force the broken base may come out and you need to be careful that you don’t break the fixture during the process. Also, if this process does not work out, use some other alternative. One more is stated below.

A screwdriver could be put in between the socket and bulb base. Now you may need to bend the broken bulb so that the needle nose pliers can get a better grasp.

After having a good grasp, try to rotate the base in anti-clockwise direction and while rotating, if you feel some resistance then immediately stop at that point. The fixture may break if you will apply more force. Move it little in clockwise direction and then in anticlockwise direction. This wiggling will help you in getting rid of that broken bulb from your socket.

After you have removed the broken light bulb successfully, sweep or vacuum up any broken glass and replace the bulb with a new one. Turn the switch on. If the bulb lights without flickering, you are done. Do not turn the bulb any further. If bulb has not lit, turn switch back off, turn bulb a quarter turn and try again. Do this until the bulb lights.

If you don’t want to repeat this problem in future then do not over tight the bulbs when you fix them in socket. When you start experiencing some resistance, then you should stop there only. In case it is sparking, rotate it till a point where it stops sparking. When everything goes fine, your work is completed.

Scott Rodgers is an author with ample experience in electricians work all over the country. His exemplary guidance has created business for a lot many Lodi Electricians (Need one? click here!) and Concord Electricians (Need one? click here!).