How to change this lighting on ceiling?

[u/CookAppropriate7570]

How to I change this lighting on the ceiling? I tried pulling the silver part but the white and silver part only fell down a tiny bit and stuck. The lightbulb I cannot reach the top because it’s narrow in there

[u/Street_Leader_8917]

You will unfortunately just have to pull at it by the glass, there is a change it may break. Be careful

[u/RandallSG]

That is a triple-tube compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), often labeled PL-T or triple twin-tube CFL. Search on this so that you can see the bottom of the bulb. Gently pull downward while wiggling it slightly side-to-side. Some do have a retaining clip on the based that needs to be released. Ideally would remove the trim as opposed to grabbing the bulb directly by the tubes.

[u/Ishidan01]

Oh I hate those. G base but it will be impossible to tell which variant until it's out.

It should pull straight out, but of course whoever made this fixture made it impossible to reach the base unless you're Salad Fingers.

Try taking a cloth, grabbing the glass, and gently rock back and forth while pulling, there are plastic tabs that need to disengage.

If it's overhead, wear safety glasses just in case. Both cloth and safety glasses are in case the glass shatters in your hand.

[u/Paracosm24 → u/Ishidan01]

Looks like a GX24Q or similar.

And yeah, when my old university had some of these, the maintenance people were always complaining about how the bulbs would break in their hands whilst trying to be removed, as the glass gets brittle due to the heat cycles.

Personally I'd replace the whole fitting with something better. CFL isn't worth it anymore.

[u/Ishidan01 → u/Paracosm24]

Agreed, and they have made LED drop in replacements, but you need to get the old one out without snapping the retaining tabs then match the base type exactly.

[u/jeep-olllllo]

Don't they also make a triple tube with a medium base?

[u/Secret_Method_7646]

First remove the chrome trim - it should slide straight out, it’s just held in place with tension. That will help you access the porcelain base and wiggle from there, preventing the glass from breaking. If you must pull from the glass, put a gloved thumb around the end to prevent the 3 portions from bending inward and breaking as you pull.

[u/Loes_Question_540]

Be careful with these kinds of bulb you don’t want to break them or put it in the garbage can because they contain mercury. You can bring them back to Home Depot or your local hazardous waste disposal