People often don’t pay too much attention to light switches. They get used all day every day until eventually, they start to break and stop working. When this happens, obviously it’s time to replace them. A sign of a lightswitch on its way out is if you hear crackling or popping noises when turning the light on and off. If you hear these noises it’s likely time to replace the switch. Here we will explain how you can diagnose a light switch issue before it completely stops working.
Why Do Light Switches Go Bad?
Similar to any other electrical fixture, light switches have many moving parts and they eventually start to wear down. Parts may break while other parts become loose and stop working altogether. While it seems like light switches will last forever, there will come a time when they all will need to be replaced.
4 Signs It’s Time to Replace a Light Switch
Sometimes people assume that the light bulb is the problem and the reason a light switch is no longer working. If you replace the lightbulb and the light is still not working, your light switch has died. Here are 4 signs that a light switch is on its way out.
1. Finicky Light Fixture
There are always those few light switches that sometimes work and sometimes don’t. Sometimes it will flicker quickly and then turn on, or flicker and then turn right back off. If replacing the light bulb does not fix this problem, it is likely that connections in the light switch are loose or actively breaking and it’s time to get it replaced.
2. The Switch Sparks
If your switch is sparking by any means you are definitely in need of a new light switch. When a switch sparks this is called a load arc. This happens when the electrical connections in the switch are pulled away from each other, causing the spark. If this happens, don’t hesitate to call a professional to come to replace the bad switch.
3. Noisy Switch
When switches are working the way they are supposed to they should not make any noise when you turn the light on and off. If you start to hear a clicking, buzzing, or cracking noise coming from the switch, that is a sign something is not working properly and it’s time to replace that switch.
4. The Light Switch is Warm
While sometimes it’s normal for an electrical outlet to get a little warm that is not the case with light switches. If you notice that your light switch feels warm when you go to turn in on or off, you’ll need to get it checked out by a professional. Light switches should always feel cold.
Contact Morrill Electric
Replacing a switch may sound simple however, it can get tricky if you’re not 100% sure what you’re doing. If you’re looking to replace your light switches contact Morrill Electric located in Amesbury, MA. Our professionals will get the job done quickly and efficiently so that you have new and working light switches as soon as possible! Contact us today by calling us at 978-388-1522 or by filling out a contact form on our website.