There are many occasions that apartment
or homeowners come across when they may want to replace a light
switch. Whether the switch is broken, or they want to replace it
with a dimmer switch or something quieter, knowing how to
safely do so is the key to one very basic home improvement.
It's fairly easy to replace a light
switch, but there are a few rules to ensure safety from both electrocution
and fire hazards. First, always turn off the electricity that feeds
that particular switch. If you're not sure which fuse operates that
particular switch, and you are alone, turn the light on and then
try turning off each fuse, checking to see if the light has gone
off before you start to even loosen the switch cover plate.
Once you have determined which fuse
turns off the juice to that switch, remove the cover plate with
a small screwdriver. Then:
Remove the screws that fasten the
switch into the electrical box.
Reach in and gently pull the switch
and its attached wires out of the box.
Once the wires are exposed, find the
small screws around which the wires are attached to the light switch
assembly. Some wires are color coded, but most will be black or
white. Carefully detach the wires from the light switch. Remember
or mark which color wire goes to which screw. Better yet, use a
marker or piece of tape to designate wire color and positions.
Hold the new switch right side up,
with switch in the 'Off' position. Replace the wires in their correct
positions and firmly tighten wires. Some are stiff and hard, so
move the switch a little to ensure that wires are snug and won't
pull off when placing back into the electrical box.
Gently push the new switch and wires
back into the electrical box, being careful not to twist or catch
wires in the way when you reattach the screws that hold the switch
into the box.
Replace the light switch cover and
turn the power back on.
Always use caution when replacing
electrical items. Make sure that everyone in the house knows
that you have turned to electricity off in a certain location and
never leave wires exposed without covering them with electrical
caps, even if you step away from your project for a minute.
