How To Fix A Wall Light Switch

The moving parts of a standard light switch are enclosed inside plastic casing so when the switch goes bad your only option is to replace it.

How to fix a wall light switch.

The single pole toggle switch is still the most popular. Unscrew the switch from the electrical box and pull it out with the wires still attached. To replace a light switch start by disconnecting the power to the switch by shutting off the breaker for the room. To replace this kind of switch follow these steps.

You may also want to use a circuit tracer to identify the circuit breaker or fuse you need to turn off. If the switch is bad you should replace it because you can t fix it. You can test the switch with a voltage tester to determine which is the problem. When the toggle switch is mounted properly the words on and off are upright on the toggle lever and the light goes on when you flip the switch up.

A variation of the traditional toggle switch is the lever action switch which lies almost flush with the wall. Before you do any work on a switch make sure power is turned off at the electrical panel. How to troubleshoot a faulty wall switch. Once the power is cut remove the switch cover and mounting screws with a screwdriver and pull the old switch from the wall.

Unscrew and remove the switch plate. Then use a voltage tester to make sure that the circuit is dead. When a switch stops switching then it s time to troubleshoot and repair or replace the switch.