Is it worth it to fix?

**Lynnwantstosave$$** · 10-19-2011, 08:13 PM

Hello,
I have a question about lamps. I just moved into an apartment and wouldn't you know it, 3 lamps stop working. I am not sure if it had anything to do with the outlets here or they just died. Now my question, has anyone ever changed out the part of the lamp where the light bulb screws into? I would like to try to fix them instead of buying new ones, not that i could afford to do that anyway. Thanks for any advice.

Lynn

**frugalwarrior2** · 10-19-2011, 09:54 PM

3 at once is weird. Is it the same outlet?
You can buy lamp kits at the hardware. Depends on the lamp if i would bother to fix it. All mine are resale,sams club or G.sale so unless I loved them (like my wormwood lamp) I wouldn't bother for myself.
How old are they? S.A. has some cool stuff here and has lamp sales?? just a thought.

**MaryCarney** · 10-19-2011, 11:47 PM

If it's a newer apartment - make SURE that there is not a switch that controls just one plug-in on the outlet but not the other.
In our house, most of our outlets have the top plug controlled by a wall switch, but not the bottom.
I was sure my copier had died...........

**low-1** · 10-20-2011, 08:00 AM

Depending on the lamp, and what's wrong with it, it could very well be a no-cost fix. I've fixed quite a few lamps that stopped working, most have been a loose wire attached to the part the bulb screws into. If you can take it apart and check those connections (unplug it first, obviously), you may find that they have just gotten loose.

Lamps are extremely simple devices, not a lot to go wrong with them. Make sure the cord is intact all the way to the part that the bulb screws into, make sure that the contacts that actually touch the bulb are in good shape and not flattened down or corroded, and the only thing that's left is the switch mechanism itself. The switch mechanism is often a single, pressed, non-serviceable part.

If you have lamps that you absolutely love that have broken switch mechanisms, you can look around at thrift stores for lamps with similar mechs and just switch them out.

But yeah, check to make sure that it's not just the outlet first.

**Lynnwantstosave$$** · 10-20-2011, 07:11 PM

Thanks for all the responses. 2 of the lamps were plugged into a plug that is controlled by a switch near the door that does turn them off/on and i had them turned on and would use the wallswitch. One of those died and the other one works. they are plugged directly into the outlet. I tried another lightbulb in the one that stopped working and no luck. The 2 other lamps are plugged in no where near each other. I have 4 days off now so i will see if i can take the part out and try to fix it. These lamps aren't ones that i can't live without, i just dont have money to buy more.

**bent** · 10-21-2011, 11:01 PM

have you checked your fuse box? you could have thrown a breaker. did you try to plug in the lamp in another area?

**Tashia** · 10-27-2011, 01:22 PM

I don't know if the same applies, but I was once told that the general rule of thumb is not to replace anything that is going to cost more than half of what it could cost to replace.

**Lynnwantstosave$$** · 12-16-2011, 05:01 PM

I wanted to update this: I got them working again! On two of them the cords were pinched. They were in storage for awhile. And the last one was all dusty/dirty where the light bulb plugs in. I also moved everything around. I am just happy they are all working. I really could not afford to buy more. I also had some new lightbulbs that were not working! That is such a rip-off.