How To Tighten Loose Bathroom Makeup Mirror

Summary

Set a bath low-cal fixture over a vanity hanging loose from the wall. This issue may besides occur with wall sconces or other fixtures hung on drywall.

Groundwork

The light fixture over the sink in my primary bathroom was pulling abroad from the wall past over an inch on the left side. It hadn't fallen downward on usa yet, only it had e'er made me nervous. The fixture is somewhat heavy with three thick glass globes. As you can see in the post-obit picture, it was pulling away from the wall on the left side by over an inch.

Loose Hanging Bathroom Low-cal Fixture

I suspect this fixture was added during the most contempo remodel to the domicile which while pretty from afar, left some real ugly issues for us later homeowners to discover. I'll get into more of those problems in afterwards posts though.

Tools and Materials

All the tools and materials that I used for this project were already in my toolbox and hardware kit.

Tools

No.	Clarification	Link
1	Black and Decker 12V Drill
2	1/iv" Drill Bit
3	Non-contact AC voltage detector
4	Wire Nippers

I would like to emphasize that if you don't take 1, y'all should go by a Non-contact AC voltage detector right now. You can notice them for a little as Five Dollars ($v) and I more often than not refuse to exercise any electrical work without one in manus.

Materials

No.	Description	Link
1	Wire Basics
ii	Electrical Tape
3	Drywall Anchors

Disassembly

Information technology can exist difficult to figure out how to take something apart if you lot aren't the one who put it up. Lots of people are afraid at this step because forcing something apart is a great way to break it.

Earlier I began disassembling the fixture or removing the bulbs, I fabricated certain the lights were off. I also taped down the lite switch and then no one, including me, could turn information technology on while I was working. If this is not enough to brand y'all comfy I strongly advise using this tactic at the breaker box instead. This was to protect myself from electrocution. I besides used the non-contact Air-conditioning voltage detector while working on the fixture to ensure that none of the wires were hot.

Switch Taped Off

My main concern with getting the light fixture off the wall was to not break any of the glass and to go on it from falling on my head. Start, I removed the bulbs. The adjacent step was to remove the drinking glass globes from the fixture by unscrewing the socket band while property up the earth. I then removed the globe and set information technology aside.

Bathroom Light Fixture Parts

I had to look upwards the proper name for the socket ring part and then I idea it was worth pointing out here for anyone else who wondered what information technology was called. If you loose or break one of these (they as well come in plastic), you lot should store for a "Socket Ring."

Lamp Socket Ring

Here is the fixture with all iii globes removed.

Calorie-free Fixture with Globes Removed

The adjacent step was to remove the cap nuts that concord the fixture to the fixture base. These nuts are unscrewed by hand.

Afterwards the cap nuts are removed the fixture tin be pulled of the base of operations. However, it was still attached electrically. I removed the existing wire basics then that I could gear up the fixture aside and look at the base of operations.

Diagnosing the Issue

Calorie-free Fixture Base

With the fixture removed information technology immediately became obvious what the event was: the drywall ballast on the left side of the base pulling abroad from the wall. It appeared to either have been wallowed out over time, or mayhap drilled to big for the installed anchor. Besides, the anchor was pretty low quality, probably having been shipped with the fixture.

Fixing the Problem

I removed the base of operations from the anchors and decided to supervene upon both the left and the right in club to experience confident that the heavy fixture was not going to fall. The ballast on the left was loose enough to be pushed into the wall with a screwdriver. The anchor on the right required a bit more piece of work. I was able to pull it out a bit and cut off the flange with some nippers, and then button the remaining plastic into the wall leaving the bare hole. This is the standard trick for removing old wall anchors. You might also cut away the flange with a box cutter or razor blade.

Using Nippers to Cut Wall Anchor

Pushing Old Anchor Into Wall

For new drywall anchors I reached into my stock of hardware and found a couple to utilise. For the left, I found a Cobra Triple Grip in my box of hardware leftovers. I like that it has the plastic that expands behind the drywall to provide a large holding surface.

Replacement Drywall Anchor

I institute this other wall ballast for the right mounting hole. Its not quite as fancy, just does accept those prissy teeth to bite into the drywall and concur pretty well.

Replacement Drywall Anchor (Correct)

The steps to install the new anchors were:

1. Run the hole with a 1/4″ drill chip to ensure proper sizing for the anchors
2. Push button the plastic anchors in and flush with the wall
3. Install the screws in the anchors until almost flush with the wall, leaving room to install the fixture base

I then reinstalled the fixture base and tightened the screws flush.

Fixture Base Re-installed

Before proceeding I decided to give all of the pieces of the fixture a thorough was on the ground. It was hard to clean up there and really hadn't had a proficient cleaning since we lived in the firm.

Cleaning the Fixture

At this point it was time to reconnect the electrical wiring and put it all back together. I'm not an electrician, just I have done a handful of electric projects then I wasn't too worried well-nigh this pace. My guidance is to ever check for communication or hire an electrician if you are unsure how electrical work should be done. Also, always read the directions. For case, if yous buy wire basics, read the directions very carefully to brand certain you are using them correctly. The manufactures test their products well, but it just counts if you lot follow the directions.

All of the wires are stranded then I beginning twisted all of the strands clockwise for all of the wires I was going to be tying together with wire nuts. I accept found this technique by and large gives the best results. And then the tricky part, I had to install the wire nuts on the wires with the fixture hanging loose with only two easily. I managed to do this as you can see in the picture, but non without almost dropping it a few times. Y'all might have better luck with another pair of hands. You can also see that I am of the add electric record effectually wire nuts tribe. If you apply them correctly you don't need to exercise this, but it ever makes me feel ameliorate. The ground wire doesn't currently tie to anything considering the firm is also old to have a grounded electrical system. I hope to do something about that someday.

Lite Fixture Re-wired

At this point I reattached the fixture to the base and put it all back together. The finished product was pretty tight to the wall, just not perfectly flush. I call back to reach a flush installation you would need to install some more than anchors to concord the tiptop and bottom screws on the fixture base.

Light Fixture Repair Complete

Conclusion

The repair I did here took an hour. Information technology would probably have taken longer if I didn't already take experience with minor electric repair and have a collection of drywall anchors on hand. Yous would probably find information technology smoother with some other pair of hands when you go to re-install the fixture. Likewise, though y'all can stand on the counter similar I did, I would probably recommend a stool or step ladder to achieve the fixture.

My recommendation for anyone else who runs into this problem is to actually screw down the meridian and bottom holes of the fixture base likewise as the left and right holes like I did. I think you will observe the fixture looks a flake nicer confronting the wall. I withal am not going to pull it down to ready that since it does at to the lowest degree seem secure now.

Source: http://homediygeek.com/loose-hanging-bathroom-light-fixture/

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