A variation of the traditional toggle switch is the lever action switch which lies almost flush with the wall.
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.
If the switch is bad you should replace it because you can t fix it.
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.
How to troubleshoot a faulty wall switch.
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.
Once the power is cut remove the switch cover and mounting screws with a screwdriver and pull the old switch from the wall.
If the switch is miswired it s easy to rewire.
Before you do any work on a switch make sure power is turned off at the electrical panel.
If a light switch won t turn off it could be because it s miswired or just a bad switch.
To replace this kind of switch follow these steps.
When a switch stops switching then it s time to troubleshoot and repair or replace the switch.
Then use a voltage tester to make sure that the circuit is dead.
The single pole toggle switch is still the most popular.
You can test the switch with a voltage tester to determine which is the problem.