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Started By
Message
electrical ceiling box keep breaking
Posted on 12/27/25 at 3:26 pm
Posted on 12/27/25 at 3:26 pm
This is my 2nd electrical ceiling box that holds up a 2 lightbulb circular light since November.
3rd one that broke this year.
The holes in the electrical box that you screw your light fixture in broke off and I cannot rescrew the light fixture back in. Both lights are now hanging on by the wires.
The house is only about 9 years old, what is the life span of these boxes breaking? Are they more prone to break in “winter” (even though it’s hot as balls today).
Any easy way to replace the box or is it just easier to get an electrician? From quick glance I think it’s the old school ones that is nailed in from the attic
3rd one that broke this year.
The holes in the electrical box that you screw your light fixture in broke off and I cannot rescrew the light fixture back in. Both lights are now hanging on by the wires.
The house is only about 9 years old, what is the life span of these boxes breaking? Are they more prone to break in “winter” (even though it’s hot as balls today).
Any easy way to replace the box or is it just easier to get an electrician? From quick glance I think it’s the old school ones that is nailed in from the attic
3
Posted on 12/27/25 at 4:36 pm to The Dunder Mifflin
It may be more than the box failing. If you have a fan, the box may not be correctly supported or you may have vibration in your fan. I had those blue plastic boxes on every ceiling fixture and were starting to fail. We updated the fans, etc and I changed them out to the deep metal boxes and supported the box with a 2x6 between the joists. Problem solved. As to calling someone, I don't know your skill level but if you are uncomfortable with electricity, definitely call an electrician.
This post was edited on 12/27/25 at 4:37 pm
Posted on 12/27/25 at 5:11 pm to Fraid Knot
It’s not fans. It small two light bulb ceiling light that goes in a closet.
Posted on 12/27/25 at 6:07 pm to The Dunder Mifflin
post a pic of the electrical box
Posted on 12/27/25 at 6:44 pm to weadjust
Something like this. The two screw holes keep snapping off that hold the light fixture
Posted on 12/27/25 at 7:30 pm to The Dunder Mifflin
Not much help without a pic of the actual box. Are the plastic holes stripped out and the screws don't grab or the plastic holes broke off the box. If the holes are stripped you could fill them w JB Weld then drill a new hole after the JB Weld cures.
If the tabs with the screw holes are broken. Replace the box w an old work box. The one in your pic is a new work box.
New work boxes (nail-on) attach directly to studs/joists before drywall for new construction, featuring built-in nails/screws; Old work boxes (remodel/retrofit) install into existing drywall with adjustable wings or clamps that grip the drywall when screws are tightened, ideal for adding fixtures to finished ceilings without accessing studs
If the tabs with the screw holes are broken. Replace the box w an old work box. The one in your pic is a new work box.
New work boxes (nail-on) attach directly to studs/joists before drywall for new construction, featuring built-in nails/screws; Old work boxes (remodel/retrofit) install into existing drywall with adjustable wings or clamps that grip the drywall when screws are tightened, ideal for adding fixtures to finished ceilings without accessing studs
This post was edited on 12/27/25 at 8:20 pm
Posted on 12/27/25 at 7:42 pm to The Dunder Mifflin
Had this issue in a house once. The contractor had used drywall screws that were to long and wider then the correct screws intended for these boxes and the box ears were cracked during initial install. Took several years but had several light fixtures fall down and only hanging by the wires.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 9:51 am to boudy30
quote:
The contractor had used drywall screws that were to long and wider then the correct screws intended for these boxes and the box ears were cracked during initial install.
I would bet money it's this. Using fatter, coarse threaded drywall screws.
If it were me and just lightweight closet lights, I'd try to shim the holes and use bigger screws since it's just going into plastic. Otherwise, replace it with a remodel box and then use the right screws.
Posted on 12/28/25 at 10:37 am to boudy30
quote:that's 100% what happened
The contractor had used drywall screws that were to long and wider then the correct screws intended for these boxes and the box ears were cracked during initial install
Posted on 12/28/25 at 11:24 am to The Dunder Mifflin
do you have access to remove and replace the box? Because you’re going to have to remove and replace the box 
Posted on 12/28/25 at 10:07 pm to The Dunder Mifflin
I had this exact same problem recently. Tried glueing the old parts that broke off several times and finally gave up. The box I was dealing with that broke was exactly like the one in your picture and the one I replaced it with was exactly like the ‘old work’ circular box a few posts below yours.
Before you start, turn off the power and disconnect the light fixture from the wires (probably wire nuts). My box was brittle (that’s why the screw holes broke) and I was able to actually just break apart the broken box with my hands by force. If that hadn’t been possible I would have tried with linesman cutters, tin snips or an oscillating saw just to get the old box removed without taking down drywall. If you can get to the nails themselves you can cut them off at the 2x4 with a hacksaw blade in a sawzall, I’ve done this many times with an existing wall box but never with a ceiling box so your mileage may vary in this application as I’m not sure if it’s doable here without damaging drywall. Take care to not damage the wires while doing this. Once the box is broken up, pull it all down and slide the wires from it. Thread them through the holes in the back of the new ‘old work’ box with the paddle attachments on the screws and push that box into place. Screw the three screws (use a drill) in on that new ‘old work’ box until the paddles grab the back of the drywall and reinstall the light fixture.
Before you start, turn off the power and disconnect the light fixture from the wires (probably wire nuts). My box was brittle (that’s why the screw holes broke) and I was able to actually just break apart the broken box with my hands by force. If that hadn’t been possible I would have tried with linesman cutters, tin snips or an oscillating saw just to get the old box removed without taking down drywall. If you can get to the nails themselves you can cut them off at the 2x4 with a hacksaw blade in a sawzall, I’ve done this many times with an existing wall box but never with a ceiling box so your mileage may vary in this application as I’m not sure if it’s doable here without damaging drywall. Take care to not damage the wires while doing this. Once the box is broken up, pull it all down and slide the wires from it. Thread them through the holes in the back of the new ‘old work’ box with the paddle attachments on the screws and push that box into place. Screw the three screws (use a drill) in on that new ‘old work’ box until the paddles grab the back of the drywall and reinstall the light fixture.
This post was edited on 12/29/25 at 9:16 am
Posted on 2/2/26 at 12:30 pm to gorillacoco
Update
Had an “electrician” come fix the boxes. One of the boxes had cracking in the sheet rock around the electrical box hole. So instead of replacing the broken electrical box and risking the Sheetrock cracking more or some breaking, he ended up putting some drywall screws into the Sheetrock to hold the lights up
Had an “electrician” come fix the boxes. One of the boxes had cracking in the sheet rock around the electrical box hole. So instead of replacing the broken electrical box and risking the Sheetrock cracking more or some breaking, he ended up putting some drywall screws into the Sheetrock to hold the lights up
Posted on 2/2/26 at 12:44 pm to The Dunder Mifflin
he ended up putting some drywall screws into the Sheetrock to hold the lights up
--
Sure hope he hit some wood, not just sheetrock.
He probably should have used one of these:
LINK
What did he charge for the call?
--
Sure hope he hit some wood, not just sheetrock.
He probably should have used one of these:
LINK
What did he charge for the call?
This post was edited on 2/2/26 at 12:45 pm
Posted on 2/2/26 at 12:52 pm to ItzMe1972
I actually had him to install 2 new electrical outlets and fix those 3 lights
150
150
Posted on 2/2/26 at 12:54 pm to The Dunder Mifflin
I actually had him to install 2 new electrical outlets and fix those 3 lights
150
--
Not bad !
150
--
Not bad !
Posted on 2/2/26 at 1:12 pm to The Dunder Mifflin
Are you putting the wrong size screws in the holes? One set is for 6-32 and the other is for 8-32, don't cram 8-32s into the 6-32s
ETA: For future reference in case you need to know, Hubbel makes slim old work ceiling pans that are great for light weight fixtures. I keep a few on hand just in case and are also great for adding light to closets and storage spaces where you are unsure of the framing, can run these right over a stud as they are sheetrock depth.
LINK
ETA: For future reference in case you need to know, Hubbel makes slim old work ceiling pans that are great for light weight fixtures. I keep a few on hand just in case and are also great for adding light to closets and storage spaces where you are unsure of the framing, can run these right over a stud as they are sheetrock depth.
LINK
This post was edited on 2/2/26 at 1:19 pm
Posted on 2/2/26 at 1:38 pm to Clames
The screws were the ones that were originally installed. I assume when the house was built. The house is about 10 years old, but I bought it six years ago.
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