When a light fixture is out, first replace the bulb with one you know lights. With the new bulb in the socket, turn on the switch. If light doesn't go on, check the fuse box or circuit breaker in the basement. If fuses are all good and/or the breakers are not tripped, the problem is probably the wall switch.
- Determine the type of switch needed. If the light can be turned on from two different wall switches, buy a "3-way switch." If only one switch turns on light, buy a "regular switch."
- Remove fuse or flip circuit breaker to off at the panel box, usually found in the ground floor or basement.
- Unscrew and remove the face plate from the wall switch.
- Unscrew the top and bottom mounting screws and pull switch out of box.
- Loosen the terminal screws on the sides or ends of the switch and remove switch.
- Connect a new switch to the wires. Always curve or twist wires in a clockwise direction around screws so wires will wrap around screw when it is tightened. The black wire should go to the brass colored screw and the white wire to the silvery colored screw.
- Reassemble the switch, doing the above steps in reverse order.
- Wrap electrical tape around the entire top, bottom and sides of the switch so that when removing it in the future, you have less of a chance of touching wires.
- If the switch is on an outside wall you may consider adding a weatherstrip backing plate to keep cold air out.
- Replace the plate and test.
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