Recessed Lighting: Can Lights, Wafers and Retrofits

New housing, remodel wafer or retrofit into an old can

Three families sit in this range. New-construction housings are installed before the ceiling is closed. Slim LED wafers and complete kits are made for remodels: they clip through a round hole cut in finished ceiling and run from a small junction box. Retrofit modules and LED bulbs in older cans replace the light source without opening the ceiling. Look at the title for 'kit', 'wafer' or 'retrofit' so you do not buy a trim that cannot be fitted to your ceiling.

Trim size, color temperature and insulation rating

Openings are usually 4 or 6 inches, and the trim is sized to the hole, so measure the cutout rather than guessing from the old fixture. Color temperature changes the room: 2700K to 3000K reads warm in living spaces, while 4000K to 5000K suits kitchens and work areas. If insulation will touch the housing in an attic ceiling, you need an IC-rated housing; a non-IC can needs clearance around it. In bathrooms and over showers, choose a model listed for damp or wet locations.

Questions about Recessed Lighting: Can Lights, Wafers and Retrofits

What does IC-rated mean on a recessed light?

IC stands for insulation contact. An IC-rated housing is built to touch insulation safely. A non-IC housing needs a gap, commonly three inches, between it and any insulation, so it is the wrong choice in a fully insulated attic ceiling.

Can an LED retrofit go into my existing can?

Usually yes. Retrofit modules screw into the standard medium socket or clip onto the housing, and many fit both 5-inch and 6-inch cans. Check the trim diameter, the can's condition and the depth available, since some cans are shallow.

Why do my LED downlights flicker or hum on a dimmer?

The dimmer is probably built for old incandescent loads. Use an LED-rated dimmer, check that the total load is above its minimum, and confirm the lights are marked dimmable. Mixing different models on one dimmer also causes trouble.