Do-it-yourself

Project: Recessed can light troubleshooting Cost: Under $15 Time: Under 2 hours Difficulty: ★★ the housing. There are trim numbers corresponding to each bulb type. Look for a part number on the trim or housing that you can use to determine if the parts are compatible. The wrong trim can trap too much heat inside the fixture, which will trip the shut-off switch.

Add to that the insulation covering the fixture and you can get a fixture that overheats and shuts off shortly after it is turned on.

It may also be that the shut-off switch is bad, but you are probably better off replacing the entire can if this is the case.

You can clear away the insulation above the can fixture, but then you will have to contain the conditioned interior air from escaping into the attic. You can do this by building an insulated box around the light fixture to ventilate the surrounding air space.

You can build the box out of rigid foam insulation. It comes in 4-by-8 sheets and costs around $10 for a 2-inch-thick sheet (or you can order premade boxes online).

The size of the box should span from one joist to the next, and there should be at least 3 or 4 inches between the top of the fixture to the top of the box. You will also have to notch the foam insulation to fit over the ceiling joists for a snug fit.

Glue the box together and use coarse drywall screws to hold the box together until the glue dries. Caulk the inside seams to make the box airtight. You can use construction adhesive to hold the box in place. Mike Klimek is a licensed contractor and owner of Las Vegas Handyman. Questions may be sent by email to: handymanoflasvegas@msn.com. Or, mail to: 4710 W. Dewey Drive, No. 100, Las Vegas, NV 89118. His Web address is handymanoflasvegas.com.