Electrical Tips on Wall Switches

Electrical Wall Switches 

There are many different types of light switches in your home that can go to controlling your light fixtures or electrical outlets. There are single pole switches that can control things from a single location, three-way switches that control lighting our outlets from two locations (that are popular in larger homes or with more complicated room situations), and even four way switches that may be used to control switches from three or more locations in the home. 
If your switch stops “switching” and turning on power to the light, electrical device, or outlet you have attached to it, you may need to check the wiring. Before you do any work on the switch, though, it is important to turn off the power to the switch via the electrical panel. You may also want to use a circuit tracer to figure out which circuit breaker or fuse you need to turn off to ensure power has stopped flowing to the area. This is crucial as you do not want to electrocute or hurt yourself while doing the repairs. 

There are a few common problems associated with home wall switches. A flickering light could be caused by a loose light bulb, loose wire connections, or faulty light fixtures and switches that need to be replaced. If an appliance that is connected to a switch is not working, it could be caused by a switch that has loose wire connections that needs to be tightened, a circuit breaker that may have been tripped (in which you would want to reset the breaker), or a blown fuse, burned out light bulb, faulty light fixture or switch, all of which need to be replaced. If a circuit breaker trips or a fuse blows when the switch is turned on, this may be fixed by tightening loose wire connections, checking for a short circuit, removing some devices from the circuit (as it may be overloaded), or replacing a faulty light fixture or switch. If the switch feels hot or buzzes when in use, there may be loose wires that need tightened, a faulty switch that needs replaced, or a circuit that is too heavily loaded and some devices need to be removed.

If these simple fixes do not cover the home electrical repairs you need to perform, you may need to call in a professional. Our electricians can help you to figure out what the problem is with your home wiring and electrical system and fix it in a fast and effective manner that is good for your home and safe for you.