How to Easily Replace a Nonfunctional Light Switch

The article is written by oLive: live random video chat on the app store's developers.

Among all the different types of toggle switches, lights switches are some of the most common ones. They can be found in every building and are something that we use on a daily basis. We all know how to change a light bulb, but what happens when the light switch fails? Lights switches are essentially two-way toggle switches that have an on and off position. This makes them pretty simple to understand and replace. Here is how:

1. Your number one concern should always be safety. For this reason, make sure to turn the power off using the fuse box or your main circuit breaker. You can also leave a note on the fuse box that the power has been turned off for a reason if there is a danger that someone might mistakenly turn it back on while you are working.
2. Take a screwdriver and remove the screws that are holding the plate which covers the light switch. After that, remove the plate as well.
3. Inside the box that you should now be seeing, you will notice the switch is held by two screws. Remove those as well and pull the switch until you see the wires.
4. The wires that come out of the wall and connect to the switch will also be held to it by two more screws. Remove those and remove the switch completely. It is a good idea to mark which wire goes to which side of the switch before removing it so that you know how to connect them properly to the new one later.
5. Go to your nearest electronics store with the old light switch and ask for a replacement. They will give you the exact same type. This is important because not all light switches are the same and if you get the wrong one, this whole procedure might not work.
6. Take your new light switch home and hold it against the wall. The switch should be in the off position. Make sure to connect each wire to the appropriate terminal on the new light switch using the screws.
7. Put the switch back against the wall and secure it with the two screws that we holding it together before.
8. Put back the cover of your light switch and use the two screws you removed earlier to secure it tightly.
9. Turn the power on and test your new light switch.

As you can see, light switches are nothing to be afraid of. They are just regular toggle switches that work on a very simple principle. The two most important things to remember are to turn the power off before you start and to remember how the wires should be connected.