Blogging My Life...
The worst bulb in the house went out the other day. It is the bulb in the entry way, which requires a really long ladder or a really long pole to change the bulb (maybe about 20 feet high, maybe much more (I really don't know).
In any event, I saw this Microfiber Hi-Reach Cleaning Kit from Bed Bath was on sale, it included a light bulb changer. So I picked it up last night and gave it a try.
I put the thing together and tried out a few of the pieces it came with. I then went with the suction cup end to change the bulb. I extended the pole as far as it goes and then had to walk up most of the stairs to reach. As I began trying to unscrew the bulb, I had this fear that it would not stick.
I had my wife grab a box, one of the hundred we used to move, and place it under the bulb. Soon after, I was able to get the bulb out, but as I lowered the poll, the light bulb came loose of the suction cup and fell to the floor.
CRASH!!!
It landed in the box, the light bulb actually did not shatter. It would have, if the box was not there.
Next, I tried putting up the new bulb. I got the new bulb to suction to the pole, but ever few seconds it would fall off. So I tried using some of the other pices, those did not work out too well. So I came back to the suction, got it to stick for a while. As I started lifting the bulb to the fixture, I got nervous again. So my wife put the box back.
I got the bulb to reach the hole to screw it in. As I turned, I lost the suction on the bulb. I waited, tried to reposition, but I knew I had no chance. The bulb would fall. I tried to push the bulb in and continue turning, but I failed.
The bulb came crashing down to the floor. Bingo! It hit the box again, and the bulb survived.
I then decided to give up and put it away. Who knew changing a light bulb can take up so much time!
My question, is this worth trying again? Do I need a different tool?
Update: See my new post, Light Bulb Changers Do Work: We Have Light!
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Comments
Go back to bed bath and return the item
tell them its not goodf they will take it back
they make something out there which is a pole and not so fancy and it does work
otherwise go buy a huge ladder as an investment
or get A ladder that goes to diffrent heights and all so then u have a all in one ladder
if that fails just throw the wife up there and hopefully she would do it and if she falls she will fall
Posted by: pole bulb | November 2, 2007 10:21 AM
Well, Ill keep it because it does other things than just change bulbs.
No way on the ladder, I am not spending $400 to get a 15"+ ladder.
I just bought a 6" for $34 on sale.
Posted by: Barry Schwartz | November 2, 2007 10:26 AM
Use gum, if it sticks, remove it with one of the other accessories, if not convinced, well simply think of anything sticky and put that on top of your sucking gizmo.
And in any case use an energy saver light bulb.
Posted by: Setimika | November 2, 2007 11:27 AM
i guess we know the answer to how many people it takes to (not) change a lightbulb
Posted by: siborg | November 2, 2007 2:10 PM
"which requires a really long later or a really long poll to change the bulb"
Later? Poll? Are you using voice software for these entries Barry?
Posted by: Burgo | November 4, 2007 4:22 PM
Ha, sounds like it. http://www.apple.com/education/accessibility/technology/text_to_speech.html
Posted by: Barry Schwartz | November 4, 2007 5:09 PM
I have two of these in my entry way, about 20 feet up. I have one of those long extension ladders and have to extend it all the way. I only change one because the other is too difficult by ladder. The one I do change, I thank God every time I successfully change it that the ladder did not break and I did not die.
One of these days, I am going to replace both units with decorative hanging lights instead of recessed lights.
Oh and by the way, I have one of those suction tools as well and they don't work.
Posted by: David Wallace | November 5, 2007 10:04 AM
1st: They do may professional versions of bulb changers. They are available from: www.budgetlighting.com/ As you will see, they are much more expensive than the "cheap" suction cup type. They use vacuum, which secures the bulbs quite well. They are a lot cheaper and safer than the $400 dollar ladder you mentioned.
2nd: I am a lighting specialist from Maintenance Engineering. We make the longest life bulbs on the market today and while they are more expensive, they last (depending on the type)as long as, 10 years in residential applications.
If you are interested, contact me with the type of bulbs you use and I'll let you know what will work for your application.
Regards,
Max Thames
Posted by: Max Thames | May 15, 2008 6:32 AM
Actually, they do work. I have an Unger pole with two attachments, one for broken bulbs and the other one for recessed floods. I was having the same problem with the one that has the suction cups on it--it wouldn't hold the bulbs long enough for me to get them down or up without them falling off. I solved that problem by carefully cleaning the suction cups with a damp dish cloth and then wiping them completely dry with a paper towel. Now the suction attachment works like a charm. The story seems to be that if there's anything at all on the suction cups, even dust or a film of grease--anything--they won't hold the bulb. But if they're absolutely clean, they work perfectly.
Posted by: Leon Galis | March 11, 2011 3:56 PM
So, what do you do with an outdoor lightbulb that's a little dusty/dirty? We have one of the suction cup type of bulb changers, and it works great in the house - as long as the surface of the suction cup is clean. As soon as I have to use it outdoors, it doesn't work. We have recessed bulbs in our front porch and car port, and they get grimy outside and then the suction cup tool doesn't work. (And actually, now that I've attempted to use it outdoors, it's not working inside because it has been dirtied. Time to get a new one! I will buy a new one for indoors, but don't want to ruin it by trying to use it outside! There's no way I can clean the burnt out bulbs outside. If I could reach them to clean them, I'd have no problem changing them!
Posted by: Michelle | December 4, 2011 3:48 PM