How do you know your light switch is wearing out?

Light switches are easy to take for granted. Most will last for decades, and other than an occasional cleaning, they're essentially maintenance-free.

But time and wear will take their toll and eventually you might find that a light switch in your home is showing signs of failure.

When something seems suddenly different with a light switch you've been using for years, don't ignore it.

At best, it's an early warning sign that you'll need to replace the switch soon, but the worst-case scenario is that it's a potential fire hazard.

One difference you might notice is an unusual sound, often a crackling, popping or hissing sound when you flip the switch.

These sounds usually come from live electricity arcing inside the switch, which could pose a hazard.

If there are no unfamiliar sounds, you might still notice a problem through your sense of touch.

If the switch or switch plate feel hot, that's a serious indicator of an electrical problem and a fire risk. There may be excessive voltage coursing through the switch or upstream problems with the wiring in your walls.

Another tell-tale sign of impending failure is that if there's suddenly a delay between the moment you flip the switch and the moment the light comes on.

If that happens, there's a good chance that the electrical contacts in the switch are wearing out after years of use.

This usually is not a fire hazard, but it's likely that the switch will eventually stop working altogether which means it's time to have it replaced.

Replacing light switches is probably the most inexpensive part of any electrical repair job putting off replacing a faulty light or power point switch could cost you many times over the cost of the switch itself.

Don't leave electrical safety to chance contact Simon Caddy Electrical today by calling 0400 110081 for a no obligation consultation.

We service the Upper North Shore area including Hornsby, Wahroonga, Pymble, Turramurra, Killara, Lindfield, Roseville, Chatswood down to North Sydney.