You may also want to use a circuit tracer to identify the circuit breaker or fuse you need to turn off.
How to fix a wall light switch.
To replace this kind of switch follow these steps.
How to troubleshoot a faulty wall switch.
If the switch is bad you should replace it because you can t fix it.
You can test the switch with a voltage tester to determine which is the problem.
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.
A variation of the traditional toggle switch is the lever action switch which lies almost flush with the wall.
When a switch stops switching then it s time to troubleshoot and repair or replace the switch.
If a light switch won t turn off it could be because it s miswired or just a bad switch.
Turn off the power to the switch at the main circuit breaker or fuse panel.
Unscrew and remove the switch plate.
Unscrew the switch from the electrical box and pull it out with the wires still attached.
If the switch is miswired it s easy to rewire.
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.
Before you do any work on a switch make sure power is turned off at the electrical panel.
The single pole toggle switch is still the most popular.