How to fit a smoke alarm
What you need
Screws (should be provided with the shelf – if not then use screws that fit into the screw holes)
washers
Masonry plugs (rawl plugs)
Pencil
Hammer
A drill with a masonry or wood drill bit (depends on what you’re are attaching the alarm too)
A smoke alarm a battery
Fitting a smoke alarm is a good idea, and it's not hard at all...
Step 1
Decide where you want it! It's best to have them on the ceiling near or in the kitchen or in a hallway.
Step 2
Get a ladder and get to the ceiling with your alarm and a pencil. Hold the alarm up and mark where the holes need to go. Don't do it near a light fitting! To be sure you don't drill into electrical cables it's a good idea to use a no-contact current & voltage detector (cheap and useful) – simply turn the device on and bring it to the ceiling to see if it detects a current close (which means there could be wiring inside the ceiling).
Step 3
Get your drill out and drill where you have marked with the pencil. Use a drill bit that's the right size for the masonary plugs (if it's wood you're putting it onto then just screw it straight in).
Step 4
Get up there and tap in lightly the masonry plugs with a hammer so they are flat with the ceiling. Put a washer over each screw so it sits by the screw head. Now screw the alarm into the masonry plugs with the screws that will have been provided with it. If you need screws then use ones that fit the holes in the alarm... Done!
How to change a light bulb!
What you need
A bulb
That’s it.
Changing a light bulb is such a simple job to do yourself and yet huge numbers of us don’t know how to do it… Well here you are, a step-by-step guide to changing a light bulb in seconds!
Step 1
Remove the lampshade or light cover if you can’t easily get to the light bulb. Be careful!
Step 2
Buy a replacement bulb! Sounds easy, and it is, but you need to buy the right bulb fitting for it to fit… The best way to find out what type of bulb you need is take out the dead bulb first. Take it with you to the shop, just to be sure, as there are different sizes and types available depending on the lamp or light fitting design.
Turn off the light, and make sure it is definitely in the off position to stop the chance of getting a shock. Make sure the bulb is cool, if it has only just blown then it could be very, very hot so give it a chance.
If you’re not sure what type of fitting you have then to remove the bulb try twisting the bulb ANTI-CLOCKWISE lightly until it unscrews completely. If it doesn’t easily unscrew then you probably have a bayonet fixture. To undo a bayonet you need to push the bulb lightly upwards into the fixture and it should move up. Then twist the bulb ANTI-CLOCKWISE and it will come free easily.
There are 2 types of fixture –
SCREW – Easy to spot because the metal bit at the bottom of the bulb has a screw-looking shape.
BAYONET – If it isn’t a screw bottom, then it’s probably a bayonet. This has a flat surface with 2 bits of metal sticking out at the sides, opposite each other. These literally slot into 2 grooves in the fitting, then you twist to clip the bulb in place.
Now go buy the right light bulb!
Step 3
Fitting the new bulb is just the reverse of removing it. Make you’ve turned the light off so you don’t get a massive beam of light in your face the moment you plug the new bulb in, trust me it’s not a good thing!
If you have a screw type fitting bulb then simply place the metal end into the light fixture and screw it in CLOCKWISE, applying a little upwards pressure to ensure the screw fits into the fitting correctly. Don’t do it up too tight, only until it stops! Test it and you’re done!
If you have a bayonet type fitting then you need to be a bit more careful. Try to line up the 2 metal points sticking out of the bulb with the 2 grooves in the fitting. Once they are in you’ll feel a definite click, so don’t force it. Usually once the bulb is in the grooves it will slide in and will have a springy feel as you push upwards into the fixture.
Simply push upwards, supporting the light fixture if necessary, then once it won’t move anymore twist it CLOCKWISE until it feels like it has clipped in. Test it out and you’re finished!
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