To remedy this, unplug the lamp or turn off the power to the fixture, then use a wooden Popsicle stick to bend the tab up about 1/8 inch. Then screw the bulb back in and see if it works. This repair may not be possible with old sockets, where the metal tab is brittle or has lost its spring entirely. In this case, the best solution is to replace the light bulb socket or the entire light fixture. The answer: Switch to LED (light-emitting diode) bulbs. They’re more efficient, last longer, and don’t contain mercury like CFL bulbs do. Habitually loose connections, either at the socket or with the wire connections, can burn out the bulb quickly, as well as cause flickering. These loose connections increase the electrical resistance and the heat passing through the filament of the bulb, which can shorten its life. A short circuit can be caused by a number of circumstances. The fixture or appliance cord may have a wiring problem, a cord plug could be defective, or the light socket may be defective. In any of these cases, replace the defective parts before resetting the breaker or replacing a fuse. Before assuming that a dark bulb is burned out, check to make sure that the circuit breaker hasn’t tripped due to a short circuit. Prevent problems by using bulbs with wattage ratings that don’t exceed the rating of the fixture. Changing to energy-efficient bulbs (such as LEDs) that have much lower wattage ratings will also prevent such problems in the future. You can build a box (chase) around the fixture housing to allow for the appropriate space around the fixture. Or, install a new IC-rated fixture that will tolerate contact with insulation. Fortunately, there are dimmer switches designed to work with CFL or LED light bulbs, and replacing the old dimmer generally solves the problem.
