Warm light switches are a sign that too much electricity is running through them. Does a hot light switch mean that something is wrong? First it’s important to identify if your light switch is traditional or a dimmer. If your traditional light switch is hot to the touch it is imperative that you take action immediately and call the expert electricians at United Services. It is not all that unusual for dimmer light switches to be warm to the touch, but anything that feel abnormally hot could be a sign of a larger issue.
3 Reasons Why Your Light Switches Are Hot to Touch!
- Bad installation
- Bad wiring is bottlenecking the electrical current
- The light switch is hooked up a circuit with a higher amp load than it can handle
A dimmer that is slightly warm to the touch is normal, but if it feels unusually hot it could be a problem. Why is it normal for dimmers to feel warm? Electricity moves through the circuit dimmer switch and redirects some of that electricity to dim lights, causing the cover plate to warm up from the extra charge.
Light switches that retain heat over long periods of time can gradually break down the wire insulation, creating cracks, making the wires lose its insulation ability. This can cause dangerous short circuits and arc faults, or even fires! If you have any concerns that your light switch is abnormally warm to the touch call us today for immediate assistance. One of our highly skilled and knowledgeable electricians will check your light switch or dimmer and inspect the wattage going through them to ensure that they are not overloaded and if necessary we can provide a light switch replacement or install new light switches.
