A lot of older homes still have porcelain bulb holders in them.  Too often they are located such that stored items can come in contact with the bulb----creating a fire hazard.  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 porcelain 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. 

     In the next picture we see where a storage unit has been installed too close to the recessed bulb.  Besides making it more difficult to replace the bulb, it also subjects the top of the storage unit to overheating and possible fire from the bulb.

      Remember that just because there may not be anything contacting the bulb right now----can something be placed/installed in the closet that would result in a fire hazard.

Charles Buell

http://www.buellinspections.com/