Certain household jobs can make us feel accomplished. Replacing the electrical switches is one of them.

Here’s everything you need to know on how to replace an electrical switch:

1. Troubleshoot the problem- A faulty light switch is an indicator of a larger electrical problem. As homeowners, you should get to the root of the issue, investigate the cause of a faulty switch.

2. Turn off the power- You can do this by double-checking to ensure that it was turned off by flipping the switch, and by using a voltage tester once the switch plate is removed to confirm that the wires are not charged. You can turn off the circuit breaker or fuse the boxing circuit.

3. Remove Switchplate and Switch- Use a flathead screwdriver to remove the switch cover. And head screwdriver to remove the existing switch from the box.

4. Remove Wires from Old Switch-  Use a screwdriver to loosen the screws holding the electrical wires on the side of the switch, and then disconnect the switch itself. It is important to replace old wires because the life of an electric wire is 50-70 years.

5. Attach New Switch- There are three different colored wires, they are white, black, and bare copper. Identify them and attach the new light switch to the wires in the same way they had been attached to the old switch. If your wire is composed of small wires, use a plier to gently twist the ends of the wires to make it whole again. 

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6. Reinstall Plate- Once the wires are attached, you can gently fold any excess wire and compress the dimmer into the electrical box. 

Bottom Line:

According to the National Fire Protection Association, more than 45,000 homes report fire due to electrical faults in the U.S.A. It is important to safeguard your home from such fires, which we can prevent by being cautious about doing regular electrical checks. Also, read this blog to learn what are electrician tools that you should have in your toolbox.

Electricians wear tool belt to protect and keep safe their tools when working on a task.