How High to Mount Bathroom Light Fixtures Above a Mirror

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There are many opinions out there concerning the recommended height to mount a bathroom light fixture above a mirror. The following brings to light a few things to consider when mounting the light fixture. There are no hard and fast rules out there concerning specific height regulations and restrictions.

Light Fixtures Come in Many Shapes and Sizes

Things You Will Need

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  • New light fixture
  • Needle nose pliers
  • Flat head screwdriver
  • Philips head screwdriver
  • Wire nuts
  • Wire strippers

Using a little planning and a lot of common sense, anyone can bring new light to her bathroom.

  • Buy light fixtures that will add interest to your bathroom.

  • If the power supply for the previous light fixture is too low for the new light(s) that will be installed, move the power supply up to a level that will serve the new light fixtures well and patch the holes in the dry wall left by the previous fixtures.

  • When it comes to light fixtures, building code is mostly concerned with making sure sources of heat (like light bulbs) are far enough away from anything that could cause a fire. Place the light fixtures so there are no fire hazards.

  • Turn the power off to the circuit that the bathroom is linked to.

  • Some light fixtures have special brackets that must be installed into the electrical box before wiring the fixture. Install this bracket, if applicable.

  • Strip 5/8-inch of insulator off of the end of the ground (green) wires. Connect the ground wire from the house to the ground wire on the fixture using a wire nut. If the fixture has a grounding nut instead of a wire, connect the ground wire from the house to the grounding nut on the fixture by bending the bare end of the wire using needle-nose pliers. Wrap the wire around the nut, and tighten the nut.

  • Strip 5/8-inch of insulator off of the end of the hot (black) wires. Connect these wires using a wire nut.

  • Strip 5/8-inch of insulator off of the end of the neutral (white) wires. Connect these wires using a wire nut.

  • Stuff all of the wiring into the electrical box. Using the screws that come with the fixture, attach the fixture to the electrical box.

  • Turn the power supply back on and test the lights to be sure they work. If they don't work, turn the power off again and troubleshoot the connections.

    • Tip

    Hang the light fixtures high enough so they won't be in the way and low enough to provide light effectively.

    Warning

    Turn your breaker off before touching any wires. If you need a step stool or ladder to reach the lights, be sure the legs and feet are stable before climbing it.

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