For starters, I live in a row home in the city and I did a complete gut and renovation to my house. Code required me to have an exterior outlet on the front and back of my house. Since I live in the city and didn't feel like giving free electricity away to my entire block, I connected my front outlet to a switch. The switch was working properly for some time, but I noticed the other day when I was putting up x-mas lights that the outlet was hot even though the switch was in the the "OFF" position. Some info about the outlet and switch. The outlet is 20 amps and the power runs to the switch and then to the outlet. I ran 20 amp romex wire (yellow) and it has your typical black, white, and ground wires. Both outlets are connected to the switch as well. The Switch is a combination double switch (also 20 amp). The upper switch runs the exterior light on a different breaker and the lower switch runs the outlets (I broke the tab between the switches so they act independently of each other). The upper switch controling the light works fine with no problems. Is it possible for a switch to fail in the "ON" position? Does anyone have an idea how this switch may have stopped working. Thanks in advance for your time.

I have an electric water heater that is 240V, 5500W. Its manual recommends a 30A breaker. However, the installed breaker is only 25A. The breaker doesn't trip, but it does get mildly warm (not hot) and there is a faint crackling sound. The water heater is wired with 10/2, maybe 25 feet of wire. Is there a reason the circuit might have been derated to 25A? Bottom line, should I change out the breaker or am I OK with the one that is there? If I change it out, do I put in a 25A or 30A breaker?