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How to Remove a Fan Light Cover

Lawrence Bonk Profile image

Written By:

Lawrence Bonk
Updated July 21, 2022

If you are new to the world of cooling appliances, you may wonder how to remove a fan light cover. Some of the best fans, after all, are ceiling fans and these designs typically leave room for an integrated light fixture. So what are the various ways to dislodge a fan light cover? Keep reading to find out.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

  • Removing a ceiling light cover is an essential step in replacing a fan’s light bulb or making necessary ceiling electrical repairs.
  • For globe covers with holding screws, climb up a ladder, hold the globe in one hand, and loosen the screws with the other.
  • For covers with integrated holding clips, climb up a ladder, remove the most flexible clip, and then the remaining clips.

Why Remove a Fan Light Cover?

The biggest reasons to do this are to replace a light bulb or make the fan ready for repair procedures, such as when learning how to stop a fan from wobbling. In some cases, you may need to access the light cover when learning how to wire a ceiling fan. You will almost always have to access the light fixture when learning how to remove a ceiling fan.

Insider Tip

Dry mode is more energy efficient than other settings and can lower your energy costs.

How to Take Off a Fan Light Cover

This truly depends on the design and accessibility of your light cover. We will break the process down to common types of light covers, though this may not match your needs exactly. In all cases, however, you need a step ladder and another set of hands to hold on to the ladder as you work.

Globe Cover With Holding Screws

This is the most popular type of cover found with most fans, though modern designs have started to eschew the standard globe.

  1. Climb up the ladder to the globe. Make sure to get high enough that you can easily access the holding screws.
  2. Look just above the globe to the bottom of the light fixture for the holding screws. There should be three or four of these screws.
  3. Support the globe with one hand and loosen the screws with the other one.
  4. Eventually, you’ll feel the globe loosen in your hand. Hold on to it and bring it gently to the ground.

Cover With Holding Clips

These are available in many shapes, with the holding clips being the main commonality.

  1. Climb up your trusty ladder to the cover. Get high enough to reach any and all holding clips.
  2. These covers typically include three to four clips spaced around the perimeter.
  3. Look for the most flexible clip and slide it off.
  4. Remove the remaining clips, as they should have gained flexibility after removing the prior clip.
  5. Take down the cover.

STAT: Over time, the glass cover may get wedged into the fitting due to small vibrations. It is necessary to remove the glass cover to either clean the glass or to replace the globes of the light. (source)

How to Remove a Fan Light Cover FAQs

How do I replace a light bulb in a ceiling fan?

Once the cover is removed, simply replace the light bulb as you normally would. Test it out via light switches and your circuit breaker.

How do I remove a ceiling fan?

Power off the fan via the circuit breaker, climb up to the ceiling joist, and then carefully remove each component, starting with the ceiling fan light cover.

How do I remove a no-screw bathroom light fixture?

This is a similar process to removing a ceiling light cover. Access the bathroom fan light cover, loosen the screws, and pull down the cover. Replace the bulb and then check for efficacy via light switches.
Lawrence Bonk Profile image
Lawrence Bonk
Lawrence Bonk is a copywriter with a decade of experience in the tech space, with columns appearing in Engadget, Huffington Post and CBS, among others. He has a cat named Cinnamon.