Lots of older homes still have porcelain bulb holders in them—-especially in closets.
Too often they are located such that stored items can come in contact with the bulb—-creating a fire hazard. They are also often subject to mechanical damage—-such as in low basements.
These old bulb holders should be replaced with fixtures approved for closet installation. Fixtures with florescent bulbs are common. Locating them above the doorway keeps them out of the way of stored items and allows for better lighting of the closet as well. In the picture below we see the bulb in contact with a cardboard box.
Another issue with these older style bulb holders is that they often have cotton pull strings that are in contact with the bulb. The string can catch on fire and drop onto the floor resulting in fire.
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