Hello
Guest

Sponsored Links


Topic: Exploding lightbulbs  (Read 1182 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

  • *
  • Posts: 1223

  • Now I'm home. :)
    • The Wordsmith Desk
  • Liked: 20
  • Joined: Mar 2011
  • Location: West Yorkshire
Exploding lightbulbs
« on: April 05, 2012, 03:21:29 PM »
I wasn't sure where to put this, so I apologize in advance if this isn't the proper category.

In two of the bathrooms in our house, we have recessed mini spotlights. The spotlights are covered with a very heavy, stainless steel and glass covering.

In the bathrooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors, these light covers are constantly falling down to the floor. In the 2nd floor bathroom (my bathroom), there are four lights - two over the tub, one over the sink and one over the toilet.  In the 3rd floor bathroom, There is one over the toilet, and one over the shower stall. At various times over the past 3 years, the light coverings have fallen to the floor. It is a miracle that no one was in the bathrooms at the time. I do think they are heavy enough to cause severe injury to a small child (not that we have a small child) or to kill a pet (we have a Westie).

Our house was purchased new three years ago. A couple years ago, the builders of this development sent letters to the homeowners stating there were problems reported about these fixtures, and they sent an electrician to inspect the homes. The electrician stated that the fixtures were "installed properly according to manufacturer's directions". Still, they fell out. My husband complained to the local office and the girl gave him the party line about the electrician's inspection.

Eventually we stopped trying to fit these covers back in place.  Yesterday, my husband's son had just stepped out of the 3rd floor bathroom, when one of the bulbs *exploded*, sending minuscule shards of glass all over the bathroom.  Luckily, he wasn't hurt, but just minutes before that, he had been on the toilet, directly under the bulb that exploded!

I called the builders today and since the home is now out of warranty (just over 3 years old), they couldn't care less. What's more, she said, "Well, they can't all be defective, as you haven't had problems with the first floor toilet. "  Um, HELLO - the first floor bathroom has a different type of light all together!  She also said that my husband's complaint to the local rep here in our neighborhood "didn't count", as it wasn't the 'official' complaint department. I asked how many complaints they've gotten about the fixtures since the electrician's inspection. She said she didn't have that information.  I asked for the manufacturer's name, but she didn't know it. She said they didn't have it on file. She said the best she could do was to give me the electrician's name.

I guess I just need to call the electrician now, but I'm very disappointed that the builders didn't seem to worry about this dangerous situation.  I know the home is out of warranty and didn't really expect them to do anything, but I'd think they'd be a bit concern about the possibility of people getting hurt!

British Citizenship approval: May 2016
Ceremony: July 2016
**************************************************************
Well, she was an American girl, raised on promises.
She couldn't help thinking that there was a little more to life, somewhere else.
After all it was a great big world, with lots of places to run to.
And if she had to die trying she had one little promise she was gonna keep.

Comprehensive CV/Résumé Preparation
Writing, Proofreading & Editing Services
www.thewordsmithdesk.co.uk


  • *
  • Posts: 6537

  • Liked: 0
  • Joined: Jul 2006
Re: Exploding lightbulbs
« Reply #1 on: April 05, 2012, 07:00:11 PM »
Ah, scary!

Was he taking a shower or running hot water that produced steam?  If a hot bulb gets wet it can explode like that.

Not that it is much help, but if you couldn't get the cover back on then maybe it would have prevented the light from getting wet.

If they are spotlights can you just remove them and use the regular light.  If there is one.


  • *
  • Posts: 1223

  • Now I'm home. :)
    • The Wordsmith Desk
  • Liked: 20
  • Joined: Mar 2011
  • Location: West Yorkshire
Re: Exploding lightbulbs
« Reply #2 on: April 05, 2012, 09:07:38 PM »
No, nobody had been in the shower for about eight hours. This was the light on the ceiling above the toilet.  There is no regular light in those two bathrooms. Maybe "spotlight" is the wrong word. They are recessed, and look like "spotlights" to me, just smaller?

Yes, it is a scary thing. I am fearful now that they will all explode. We are trying to find out if we can use some other type of lightbulb in them. Hopefully the electrician will return my call tomorrow.
British Citizenship approval: May 2016
Ceremony: July 2016
**************************************************************
Well, she was an American girl, raised on promises.
She couldn't help thinking that there was a little more to life, somewhere else.
After all it was a great big world, with lots of places to run to.
And if she had to die trying she had one little promise she was gonna keep.

Comprehensive CV/Résumé Preparation
Writing, Proofreading & Editing Services
www.thewordsmithdesk.co.uk


  • *
  • Posts: 3358

  • Liked: 9
  • Joined: Mar 2011
  • Location: IN to Blackburn to IN to KY
Re: Exploding lightbulbs
« Reply #3 on: April 06, 2012, 01:15:52 PM »
Very scary! Is it track lighting? That is what comes to mind for me with the description of mini spotlights. I could be way off.
“It's practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry.” Joe Moore

“We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”
― Dr. Seuss


  • *
  • Posts: 1223

  • Now I'm home. :)
    • The Wordsmith Desk
  • Liked: 20
  • Joined: Mar 2011
  • Location: West Yorkshire
Re: Exploding lightbulbs
« Reply #4 on: April 06, 2012, 04:22:23 PM »
No, not track lighting. Image a hole in your ceiling, about 4 inches in diameter. The lightbulb sits inside the ceiling, with the cover over it (when they stay up), sitting flush with the ceiling. It's supposed to be all cool and modern, but it's a pain in the ass to change the bulb, and it's dangerous to boot!
British Citizenship approval: May 2016
Ceremony: July 2016
**************************************************************
Well, she was an American girl, raised on promises.
She couldn't help thinking that there was a little more to life, somewhere else.
After all it was a great big world, with lots of places to run to.
And if she had to die trying she had one little promise she was gonna keep.

Comprehensive CV/Résumé Preparation
Writing, Proofreading & Editing Services
www.thewordsmithdesk.co.uk


  • *
  • *
  • *
  • Posts: 15617

  • Thence we came forth to rebehold the stars
  • Liked: 21
  • Joined: Feb 2005
  • Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
Re: Exploding lightbulbs
« Reply #5 on: April 06, 2012, 04:34:25 PM »
It's called recessed lighting.  We have it in our kitchen & bathroom, but our covers don't fall off & the bulbs don't explode.

Suggest googling troubleshooting for recessed lighting.
Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in...

- from Anthem, by Leonard Cohen (b 1934)


  • *
  • Posts: 1223

  • Now I'm home. :)
    • The Wordsmith Desk
  • Liked: 20
  • Joined: Mar 2011
  • Location: West Yorkshire
Re: Exploding lightbulbs
« Reply #6 on: April 06, 2012, 04:56:54 PM »
Yes, I said 'recessed' in my OP, but I was just trying to create a visual. :)

I will Google troubleshooting though. Thanks for that, I didn't even think of it. Perhaps when (if) the electrician calls back next week, I will be more informed.

Thanks again. :)
British Citizenship approval: May 2016
Ceremony: July 2016
**************************************************************
Well, she was an American girl, raised on promises.
She couldn't help thinking that there was a little more to life, somewhere else.
After all it was a great big world, with lots of places to run to.
And if she had to die trying she had one little promise she was gonna keep.

Comprehensive CV/Résumé Preparation
Writing, Proofreading & Editing Services
www.thewordsmithdesk.co.uk


  • *
  • Posts: 3358

  • Liked: 9
  • Joined: Mar 2011
  • Location: IN to Blackburn to IN to KY
Re: Exploding lightbulbs
« Reply #7 on: April 06, 2012, 08:22:04 PM »
It's called recessed lighting.  We have it in our kitchen & bathroom, but our covers don't fall off & the bulbs don't explode.

Suggest googling troubleshooting for recessed lighting.

Oh yes... we had some of those at the Subway I managed in the States, and they were called (of all things) recessed lights. Silly of me to forget.  ;D I agree, they are a pain to change.
“It's practically impossible to look at a penguin and feel angry.” Joe Moore

“We are all a little weird and life's a little weird, and when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall in mutual weirdness and call it love.”
― Dr. Seuss


Sponsored Links





 

coloured_drab