How to Remove Halogen Bulb from Track Lighting?

It can be daunting to figure out how to remove one of the bulbs on your track lighting – for instance, when it stops working and you have to change it.

If one of the bulbs in your track lighting stops, all you have to do is replace that one bulb. What if it is a halogen bulb?

We will take you through the do’s and don’ts of removing a halogen bulb from track lighting.

Why Would You Need To Remove Your Halogen Light Bulb?

Before going to remove your halogen bulb, you should know why the light should be changed. 

When it start to flicker or get dimmer, the lamp will eventually burn out. It is important to replace it with a new one before this happens. Halogen bulbs last longer than other types of light bulbs, but they still burn out over time.

After all, it never hurts to be careful, and knowing what conditions necessitate a change might make all the difference.

The Light Burns Out

This is the most common scenario why you should change your halogen bulbs. We know halogen lights are very volatile and inefficient compared to LED bulbs. Halogen bulbs heat up quickly, consume more power and lifespan is very less.

So, if you're continually using halogen lights, you'll have to be ready for regular changes.

Removing Your Track Light System Entirely

Track lights are not necessary for everyone. If you are not satisfied with your correct light set up you may remove your entire lighting system. 

Dimmed Light

If your halogen emits less light that mean your bulb is way to end of its life span. That time you need to change your light. 

Flicking issue

Some times few lights start to flick before end of its lifespan. This is very award situation that your eye get pained. In this situation, you have to remove your halogen light bulb. 

Steps To Removing Halogen Bulbs From Track Lighting

It's not as simple as replacing a new light bulb in your lamp to remove halogen lights from track lighting. This is more difficult. So, carefully follow these steps to remove your bulbs.

1. Lights Off

The first thing you do when you are removing or changing a bulb in any situation, not just track lighting, is turn he light off. This will ensure you do not get shocked. You should also ensure that no one else in the room turns the light back on when you are removing the bulb.

For halogen bulbs, you will have to wait between 5 and 10 minutes after turning off the light. This will give the bulb enough time to cool down. If you think that sounds like a long time to wait, it is because halogen bulbs run extremely hot. Touching a hot halogen bulb is bound to cause serious burns on your skin.

2. Wear Gloves

You should not touch halogen bulbs with your bare hands. Due to high temperatures they operate at, halogen bulbs are sensitive to skin oils that are left printed on the glass surface when you handle the bulb in your hand.

The oily spots heat up, becoming hotter than other areas of the bulb’s surface. This can create cracks that allow the halogen glass to drain out of the bulb, leading to the bulb’s early failure. The heated up oily spots also cause imbalance as the bulb heats up unevenly. In some cases, the bulb may even explode.

Wear rubber gloves when removing an old halogen bulb and when handling a new one.

In case you touch a halogen bulb with your bear hands, wipe the glass surface with an alcohol-wet cloth and afterward wipe the alcohol with a dry cloth.

3. Disengage the Fixture – Or Not

The next step is to determine if it’s necessary to disengage the fixture in order to remove the bulb. This depends on the type of track lighting you are dealing with.

If it’s possible to simply unscrew the bulb out of the fixture’s front, you will not have to take down the fixture.

On the other hand, if it’s necessary that you take a piece or cover off of the fixture in order to get at the bulb, the easier thing would be to take off the track before you remove the bulb.

This information may be provided in the instruction manual that came with the track lighting system. You can also find out by researching the fixture online.

Taking a fixture off of a track-lighting system involves rotating the basis of the light. Loosen any fasteners like screws or pins that hold the track in place and then rotate the fixture 90 degrees counterclockwise. The whole fixture will pop out of place and release into your hand.

4. Remove Bulb from Socket

You remove incandescent, CFL, and LED bulbs by unscrewing them counterclockwise. Track light, on the other hand, may be unplugged, unscrewed, twisted, or locked into place, any of one of those different methods of removal.

Examine the bulb you are working with first before you attempt to remove it, determine the proper method of removing it.

Move the bulb side to side and gently pull it towards you, but gently, observing for any movement that occurs. Either of these two motions will induce the bulb to move, and will help you determine the appropriate removal method.

Sometimes you may need to take a cover off of the bulb for you to access it. Covers are typically fastened in place with a screw or clip.

If you can’t figure out how to disengage the bulb, you can consult the fixture’s installation instructions.

Final Verdict

You should keep your rubber gloves on throughout the entire process, particularly if you will put the bulb back in later. As we explained, halogen bulbs are sensitive to the oil prints we leave on the bulb surface when we touch them with our bare hands. It may not matter much, though, if you are removing a bulb for direct disposal.