Soaring ceilings- Who changes the light bulbs? (Home Depot, window, heat)

[ilovemycat]

I always have wondered about the homes I see on TV shows with such high ceilings, truly soaring, and a light fixture/chandelier up there. Plus windows. How do these people change a light bulb, dust, clean a window? Is it that they are so wealthy they hire someone to do these tasks? They were a pretty common feature for a number of years, even in town homes. Any experience with these rooms and if you regret having them, or remain very happy with them?

[Iggier]

I was going to respond in the "8 foot ceiling heights" thread, but yours is more appropriate. I have a home with soaring ceilings. Minimum 10 foot in some rooms, vaulted in others - approaching 15 feet, and a two-story foyer. All have ceiling lights and there's a chandelier hanging from the two-story foyer. Most also have smoke detectors affixed to the ceiling.

HATE it, absolutely HATE it.

It is impossible to clean/dust, change light bulbs or smoke detector batteries. I simply do no use the ceiling lights. Instead of dealing with replacing smoke detector batteries, which annually required a handyman with a very tall ladder, I recently had an electrician replace the smokes with the 10-year battery type. Wish I'd had the foresight at the time to also have the electrician replace all the bulbs with LEDs, which would last forever.

Then there's the absolute waste of gas and electricity to heat and cool this wasted space.

Sure, high/vaulted ceilings make a home look impressive and lend an open, airy feeling, but that's it. There is no other redeeming value. I cannot wait to unload this house in favor of one with 8-foot ceilings that I can easily reach with a short ladder.

[DanielAvery]

Depending on the structure of the light fixture, the bulbs can often be changed using a bulb-changing tool with extending handles that you can buy at a hardware store. I used to have one of those to change bulbs on the porchlights. Ditto with dusters, which can be put on extension poles.

You can rent a large ladder at most any Home Depot or Lowe's for...maybe $20 a day, during which you could easily change every bulb, dust, or do whatever you need to do. Or get your kid to do it if you hate heights. Renting it sure beats buying one just to use once or twice a year.

Still, I agree that the high-ceiling foyer is probably a waste of energy.

[TheOverdog]

Plus windows. How do these people change a light bulb, dust, clean a window? Is it that they are so wealthy they hire someone to do these tasks? They were a pretty common feature for a number of years, even in town homes

There are handymen who advertise stuff like this in my town daily (as in they put a note on my door almost daily). I change them myself, and dusting is a yearly thing.

Same with exterior window washing and tree trimming.

[TamaraSavannah]

Sigh.....tell me about it!

In my house for a year, there is a fixture over the stairway, very high up, can't see how to get a ladder directly under it.

I think I am just going to tape over that light switch and not use it.

[blazerj]

http://www.amazon.com/Evriholder-HR-...ceiling+duster
Something like that. The one I have has a curved duster for ceiling fans and certain chandeliers. It's pretty easy and I only do it once a year. The pole also has a light bulb changer, but I have LED's and so haven't used it yet.

[USAGeorge]

Bulb changing device that screws onto a paint stick...costs apx $8 bucks,,,and away go's the troubles.