How to Install Recessed Lighting [Best Guide] After buying recessed lights, the first question in your mind will be “How to install them?”Installing recessed lights is easy if you know the right steps to take and have some basic electrical knowledge.Let’s go through the step-by-step process of recessed light installation and explain things you need to know. Part 1. Tools and Materials for Recessed Downlight Installation The tools and materials you need depend on the current status of the area where you want to install the lights. If the wiring has already been done and recessed lighting housings are already in place, you will need a few items. But if you need to do everything from scratch, you will need a lot of things and expertise. Here are a few important tools and materials. You can choose the required ones according to the area's status. 1. Drill machine and hole saw kit (for making holes in the ceiling) 2. Ladder 3. Screwdriver 4. Voltage tester 5. Lights housing 6. Wire 7. Wire cutter 8. Wire stripper 9. Safety glasses 10. Electrical tape Part 2. Preparation Steps Before Light Installation Before you start the installation, here are a few things you need to do: 1. Plan for the installation. If you need to make holes, select the right places and mark them. Make sure the lights are evenly placed. 2. Get the required items and tools ready. 3. Check for obstacles, such as pipes and wires, before making a hole. You could end up damaging something. 4. Turn off the circuit breaker to ensure your safety. You can also turn off the switch if it is installed and the light housings are already fitted. 5. Use a voltage tester to check whether it is safe to work or not. Part 3. How to Install Recessed Lighting in 5 Steps We are going to explain the step-by-step process of installing recessed lighting from scratch. If there is some work already done, you can skip those steps. Step 1: First, you need to drill the required holes in the ceiling. Take the drill machine and install the hole saw kit. Step 2: Once the holes are drilled, you need to secure the recessed lighting housings. Insert them in the whole and fasten them using screws. Step 3: Connect the wires to the recessed lighting housings. If there are naked wires, use insulation tape. Step 4: Connect the E26 base into the socket. Then, connect the TP24 to the E26 adapter. Step 5: Finally, push the light slightly up so that it goes into the housing and gets secured. Part 4. Tips and Troubleshooting for Installing Recessed Lighting Tips for Installation Tip 1: Pick the right places in the room for lights to have an even distribution. Tip 2: Always turn off the circuit breaker or power supply of the area you are working in. It is necessary for your safety. Tip 3: If you do not have enough knowledge and the fixtures aren’t installed, it is better to hire an electrician to get the job done. Tip 4: Before drilling in the ceiling, make sure there is nothing behind. You don’t want to cut wires or damage pipes. Tip 5: Use safety glasses while drilling holes in the ceiling. Tip 6: While working with the ladder, keep the area clear. Troubleshooting Fix 1: If the lights are flickering, there could be an issue with the wiring. Maybe the connectors or any joint you have made is lost. Fix 2: If the lights can’t turn on after turning on the circuit breaker, use a voltage tester to know whether the wiring is perfect or not. If no voltage appears, the circuit breaker could be faulty or there could be other issues. Fix 3: If the fixture can’t fit in the hole, you need to adjust it according to the lights you have. Fix 4: If you observe or feel heating in the wires, breaker, or light fixture, it means there is an issue. You might have used wires having a low ampere rating, a wrong circuit breaker, etc. Fix 5: If you feel lighting is not enough, you need more fixtures or lights that provide more lumens. Fix 6: In case you hear or see sparks, the connection could be loose or the light could be faulty. Fix 7: If the breaker trips again and again, it could be overloaded. Use the right circuit breaker according to the connected load. Part 5. How Much Does It Cost to Install Recessed Lighting The labor cost of ceiling installation and replacement ranges between $50 to $150 per hour. Each fixture could take around a few minutes to several hours, depending on the work needed. According to the number of fixtures you have, you can calculate the total labor cost. Keep in mind you also need to spend on electrical boxes, wiring, recessed lighting housings, etc. Part 6. Recessed Lighting Recommendation If you are looking for recessed lighting, Govee smart retrofit recessed lights are perfect. They are compatible with your existing downlight cans and are quite easy to install. These are smart lights controlled via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. You can select from 16 million colors and adjust the brightness as needed. For ease, you can select any preset from the application and control a group of lights with one tap. The best part—you can control them with voice assistants. FAQs About Changing Out Recessed Lighting Q1. Do you need an electrician to install recessed lighting? If the recessed light fixtures are already installed, you can fix the recessed light easily. All you need to do is connect the E26 base to the socket and then connect the wires. But if it requires wiring, drilling holes for the fixtures, installation of an electrical box, and other things, you need to hire an electrician. Q2. Can I install recessed lighting myself? Yes, you can if the fixtures are installed and wired. It will probably take 5 minutes to fix the light into the fixtures and get it ready for lighting. Q3. How many recessed lights do I need for a 12x12 room? You will need around 4 to 8 recessed lights in a 12x12 room, depending on the lumens each fixture provides and the lighting level you need. Final Words If you have the basic DIY skills, you can easily install recessed lighting by following the steps we have shared. All you need is the right tools, basic knowledge, and skills to get it done. And if the recessed lighting housings are already there, you can install Govee recessed lights in a few minutes.