Broken Wall Switch

1) I have an issue with a wall switch in my Liverpool home, can you fix it for me?

Yes. We specialise in smaller works, fault finding and repairs. There are many different wall switches that can fail and cause problems. A BROKEN WALL SWITCH can be any of the following:

• 1-way light switch

• 2-way light switch

• Intermediate light switch 

• 20a DP switch

• Fused switch

There are more but these are the most common. Typically, these cannot be repaired if they are faulty. A replacement is normally necessary. We carry many spares that enable us to replace switches there and then without having to purchase and return to carry out the work. 

2) Why has the switch failed

There are a variety of reasons why a switch would fail:

Wear and tear due to age: The switch has failed simply because it has performed its function too many times and now no longer operates correctly. There are several moving parts in a switch and over time these components can wear and fail. It happens. 

Excessive electrical load: The switch in the photograph has a 13-amp fuse installed. It was used to run a dishwasher and a washing machine and over time there was consistently too much load drawn through the switch which caused the fuse to overheat but not blow. This constant overheating led to a melted switch and wiring at the back.

Poor installation: This happens when a switch has been poorly installed. DIY installation is a common cause of failure and poor installation. Electrical work is specialised and requires skill and knowledge to undertake safely. DIY installation can often mean that electrics may work for a while but may then fail due to poor methods, dangerous installation or other factors that would not have happened had a professional undertaken the work. 

Poor design: Occasionally the electrical system containing the switch may have been designed poorly and as a result components can wear out too quickly requiring regular replacement. 

Poor quality switch and overuse: Electrical accessories in the UK are made to a minimum standard and should comply with the relevant British standard. This does not mean that they will last forever and some brands are much better quality than others. Sometimes there may be switches that have not been manufactured correctly to the right standard and these may be dangerous or fail prematurely. 

3) Can fix the switch or does it have to be replaced? 

As with many things these days, it is not sensible to attempt to repair an electrical switch or socket as new ones are relatively inexpensive. Electrical accessories generally are not intended to be repaired. Once electrical components / accessories fail it is more normal to replace them than attempt a repair. 

4) Will the new switch match the old one?

When we replace an accessory in an emergency we will always replace with a white accessory. These are what we carry. If you would prefer a particular brand or style then we will likely need to re-attend your property with the correct item after researching the brand and model number. On occasion it may be impossible to replace with an identical item as manufacturers change their product lines regularly and many lines become obsolete and difficult to obtain. 

5) Will the switch fail again?

Over time inevitably a switch will eventually fail again. If a switch has failed within a couple of years, then there is something possibly wrong with the switch or the way in which the electrical installation is being used. 

6) How much will it cost to replace the switch?

Small jobs like this are covered under our minimum charge, the rate for which can be found in our help sheet “how much is it?”. It is often preferable to have a few jobs carried out whilst we are on site as it can work out more cost effective to have several small jobs carried out at once rather than booking separate visit to do one job at a time. We always advise customers to let us know if there are other bits and pieces that need sorting out whilst we are there, sometimes you live with things a certain way when they have failed and forget about them. Pull cord switches that have broken, sockets that are loose, one side of a socket failing and so on. 

7) How soon could you come and do the job for me?

We can fit smaller jobs in quite quickly. With larger jobs there can be a couple of weeks or more before we can fit the work in but with a minimum charge job such as swapping a switch or socket, this can be done within a few days normally. Please contact us to book in. There are a few details we will need in order to confirm your booking and normally we will ask for a deposit in order to secure space in our busy diary.