Don Vandervort, Head Homeboy, has written more than 30 DIY home improvement books, been a segment host on HGTV, served as MSN.com's home improvement expert and written countless magazine articles.
The most common problems with switches are that they simply cease to work or give off sparks when you flip them off and on. If a light doesn't work and you suspect the switch, do the following:
1) Turn off the power to the light circuit.
2) Remove the switch's cover plate and unscrew the two screws that mount the switch to the electrical box.
3) Use a voltage tester to check the screw terminals on the side of the switch to make sure they're not hot (charged) and then gently pull the switch out from the box.
4) Unscrew the wires from the two terminals and straighten their ends with a pair of pliers.
5) Twist the two bare ends together and screw a wire nut onto the twisted pair.
6) Turn the circuit back on. If the light goes on, the switch is bad--just install a new one.
7) If the light still doesn't work, the problem is in the wiring or the light fixture, so turn off the power to the circuit, reconnect the original switch, put the cover plate back on, restore the power to the circuit, and check the light fixture or call an electrician.
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