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Light Switch Replacement

Picture of Cristy Gies

Cristy Gies

Designer Founder of DIYGirlfriend

Over time your light switches can yellow and show their age. Replacing the light switches can be a quick update to make your home feel more updated. Why not replace those old simple switches with a new sleek toggle style switch or a dimmer switch to help set the mood.

Light switches can also just wear out over time causing them to loosen up and not snap into place like they should. Another sign of a worn-out switch is a delay in the light fixture coming on. No matter which issues you are experiencing, it is time to replace.

While this may feel like a daunting task, I doesn’t have to be a difficult one. Simply follow basic electrical safety measures, can save you the hassle and expense of hiring an electrician.

Replacing the light switches in your home can come from a want to update or maybe they are just not working correctly anymore. No matter the reason, in this DIYG tutorial we will walk you through step-by-step of how to replace your light switch.

Let’s get rid of those old dingy worn-out light switches and start updating your home now.

Here is What you will need:

Materials:

  • Replacement Light Switch
  • Replacement Faceplate

Tools:

  • Flathead Screwdriver
  • Phillips Screwdriver
  • Pliers
  • Wire Cutters
  • Drill (Optional)

You can find these items in any local home improvement store. 

Watch the video below to start replacing your light switch.

Or you can follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Step 1

  • Locate your fuse box
  • Either turn off the specific breaker for the room you’re working with or turn off all your electricity in the house

Step 2

  • Use your screwdriver to remove the two screws on the faceplate and remove it from the wall
  • Use your screwdriver (or drill) to remove the two screws that connect the light switch to the junction box
  • Let spackling dry

DIYG Tip: If there is excess paint on your light switch, try to remove excess paint with a blade before pulling the switch off the wall to avoid removing paint from your wall

Step 3

  • Loosen the screws on the light switch that are attached to the wires
  • Use your pliers to gently wiggle the wires and try to remove them without cutting them
  • If you have a wire that won’t budge, snip it off with your pliers

DIYG Tip: If you need to snip wires, do it at the end where the wire meets the screw to avoid cutting off too much of the length

Step 4

  • If you did have to snip your wires you will need to do a little extra work to prepare them
  • You’ll want about half an inch of wire to be exposed on the end
  • Twist around the rubber coating with your pliers until you have made a cut
  • Then you can grab the end of the rubber with your pliers and pull it off to expose the wire

DIYG Tip: Twist gently to avoid cutting the actual wire

Step 5

  • Once the ends of your wires are exposed, it’s time to prep the wires to attach them to the new light switch
  • Loosen the screws on the new light switch
  • Grab the end of your exposed wires with your pliers (one at a time) and create a loop using the same movement that you would to tighten the screws with your screwdriver

Step 6

  • Now it’s time to attach the wire loops to the screwheads on the light switch
  • We do not have a ground wire, so we will place the loop from our hot lead wire (red wire) on the darker screw on the right side of the light switch
  • Use your pliers to squeeze the wire and secure it around the screw
  • Use your screwdriver to tighten the screw all the way
  • Repeat this process for the remaining wires

DIYG Tip: If you have a ground wire (solid copper wire) attach it to the green screw on the light switch

Step 7

  • First, make sure that all the wires are very secure around the screwheads
  • Then you can push the wires back into the junction box in the wall

Step 8

  • Use your screwdriver to tighten the two screws on the top and bottom of the light switch to the two holes in the junction box
  • Place your faceplate over the light switch to make sure that your light switch is attached evenly

DIYG Tip: Don’t tighten the screws too tight otherwise your light switch could sit too far behind the faceplate

Step 9

  • Make sure that the faceplate lines up with the light switch
  • Then you can use your screwdriver to tighten the two screws on the faceplate to the switch

DIYG Tip: Make sure not to tighten the faceplate screws too tight or you could risk cracking the faceplate

Step 10

  • Turn the electricity back on at the fuse box
  • Flip on your light switch and make sure that everything is working properly

Then you’re finished, enjoy your new light switch!

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