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How to Replace a Light Switch

Is your light switch making a popping or crackling sound when you flip it? Would you like to upgrade its style or functionality? Or is your switch just broken? If any of these apply to you here are seven easy steps to replacing a light switch yourself.


Tools You’ll Need: Screwdriver, Wire Cutters, Wire Strippers, Wire Tester, Utility Knife, Flashlight or other portable light source
Step 1: Cut Circuit Power to the Switch
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Before starting any electrical project, cut the power to that circuit to avoid getting electrocuted. Go to your electrical panel or fuse box to find which circuit to turn off. Always check and double check for safety!

Pro Tip: Many panels are labeled, but some aren’t. Go through your circuits with the lights on so you can see when power to your switch goes off. If you’re not in the same area as the one to which you’re trying to break power, have someone stand in that area and call to you when the light goes off. Now might be a great time to add labels that might be missing or misleading.
Step 2: Remove the Old Switch
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Start by removing the old cover plate, using your screwdriver. If the plate will still fit your new switch and if it isn’t cracked or broken, set it aside to use again. Otherwise, you won’t need this plate anymore. Next, unscrew the switch from the wall and pull the switch out of the wall box. At this point, if you have a wire tester, you’ll want to test the wires to be certain there is no power flowing to the switch.

Pro Tip: Occasionally, the faceplate or the switch can be painted over, making them difficult to remove. You may need to use the utility knife to score the edges of the plate or switch to break it free and avoid pulling paint from the wall.
Step 3: Disconnect Wires from the Old Switch
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Take a look at your switch and see where the existing wires are connected. Either take a picture of the wires with your phone or label each of the wires so you know where to reconnect the new switch. Using your wire cutters, snip the wires connected to your old switch. Once your wires are cut, you’ll use wire strippers to give you a clean edge.

Pro Tip: If your wires are pretty short, you can lengthen them by creating what’s called a pigtail. For instructions, click here:
How to Make a Pigtail
Step 4: Connect the New Switch
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Make sure you pay attention to which wires you are connecting to which terminal. It can help to double check the wire labels you made.

Pro Tip: Wrap the wire clockwise around the screw so that it forms a snug fit as you tighten the screw. You want this to fit very tight. Loose fittings can cause electricity arcs that could be a potential fire hazard.
Step 5: Replace the Switch
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Once your wires are connected and the screws are firmly tightened down, bend the wires back like an accordion and replace the wires in the box. Line up the switch with the holes in the wall and screw the new outlet into place.

Pro Tip: At this point, it’s important to check that the switch is oriented correctly and not upside-down. Make sure the “on” and “off” labels are legible when you put the switch in; namely, when you flip the switch up, the light comes on and when you flip the switch down, the light goes off.
Step 6: Install the Faceplate
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Place the faceplate back on, over the switch. Screw the cover plate into place, making sure not to over tighten the screw, as this can cause the plate to crack or break.
Step 7: Turn the Power Back On and Test
Click Here To See This Step
Flip the breaker switch or replace the fuse in your control panel to restore power. Flip your new switch to make sure the light comes on.
If you feel uncertain or that you may have gotten in over your head at any point, call an electrician you trust for help. If you don't already have an electrician you trust, give Any Hour Services a call. We’d be happy to send out one of our certified technicians to help with any of your electrical needs.
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Logo for Any Hour Electric, Plumbing, Heating & Air featuring a smiling technician with crossed arms, a stopwatch, and a bold, professional tone.

Any Hour Services

1374 West 130 South, Orem, UT 84058

© Copyright 2024 Any Hour Services LLC
© 2024 Any Hour Services LLC

Pricing FAQ

A:

The prices you are quoted come out of our pricing guide. We have looked at the most common tasks we are asked to perform and figured out the average time to perform the task, the cost of the materials, and the cost associated with running a drain business that is able to stand behind that work.

To calculate the cost of your drain project, your plumber will determine the tasks needed. Each task has a price associated with it, which your plumber will add together to arrive at your total. This method allows us to identify and rule out unnecessary tasks, prioritizing fairness and transparency (while saving you money).

Our pricing method is not influenced by the neighborhood someone lives in but is designed to be fair and transparent. When we designed our pricing guide, we asked ourselves, “What does it take to perform this task?” NOT, “How much can we get a person to pay?” This commitment to honest, clear pricing reflects our respect for our clients.

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A:

When you charge by the hour, you can only give a price after the job is finished. We don’t want you to have to wait until the end of the job to find out how much it costs.

We believe there are too many variables that make “charging by the hour” more of a win for the company than for the homeowner. There are the things that a homeowner has no control over but ends up paying the price for anyway: if a technician has to leave the job to get a part, if technicians work more slowly, if the job takes longer than expected, etc. With “charging by the hour,” there’s no accountability on the plumbing company to have their trucks stocked better, train their technicians better, or run their business more efficiently.

Our commitment to a fair and transparent pricing model is unwavering. We believe in doing right by everyone involved: the homeowner, the technician, and the company. This is not just a business decision, but a moral one, ensuring that everyone is treated with the fairness and respect they deserve.

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A:

The staff answering our phones and scheduling appointments are not technicians. They do not understand how the plumbing in your home works or how to price the work you need help with.

Our process involves a comprehensive on-site assessment by our technicians to ensure no crucial details are missed. This thorough approach that looks at all variables is how we can provide you with a price that remains unchanged from the start to the completion of the work: the price we give you before the begins is what the cost will be after the work is performed. Here at Any Hour Services, we believe in honest pricing.

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A:

Requesting a quote is simple. Contact Any Hour Services, and we will assess your needs, providing a transparent estimate for the repairs.

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Yes, you can request a quote online, and our team at Any Hour Services strives to respond promptly to all inquiries.

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A:

It costs $269 to inspect your sewer main line with our sewer camera equipment. If you’d like to see what the inside of your sewer line looks like, our sewer supervisors have high-definition cameras to show you a live video of the inside your sewer main line.

Residential, owner occupied special:
$29 drain clear / rooter service. Unclog any drain, including the sewer mainline, as long as it has an easily accessible cleanout.

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A:

It costs $269 to inspect your sewer main line with our sewer camera equipment. Below you will find a couple internet specials to help you save. If you’d like to see what the inside of your sewer line looks like, our sewer supervisors have hi definition cameras to show you a live video of the inside your sewer main line.

Residential Special:
$149 live camera inspection. High-definition camera is set down your drain so you can inspect the condition of your sewer mainline. Need an easily accessible clean-out.

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A:

If you are looking to replace your sewer main line, one of our sewer supervisors will come to your home and inspect your sewer main line with a high-definition camera and show you what options are available. The visit doesn’t cost you anything, so call us if you have questions about replacing your sewer main line.

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A:

Yes, in addition to our coupons, we offer senior discounts and military discounts. You can receive 5% off or any special promotions we may be running, whichever is greater. You can ask your drain technician to show you your savings.

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A:

No, as long as you live in our service area, our drain technicians can come to your home and help. We service homes from North Ogden, South to Nephi. West from the Tooele/Grantsville area, east to the Park City Heber area.

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A:

No, our drain technicians don’t quote a price until they have seen your drain issue. Once they quote a price, it doesn’t change, no matter how long it takes. At any time you want to add more tasks, your drain technician will let you know how much it would cost to perform the extra work.

When it comes to our drain clearing specials, if we can not clear your clogged drain, you don’t pay us.

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A:

You can pay for the the drain work we perform with cash, check, or any major credit card. We collect, in full, upon completion of the project. If you would like to make monthly payments, we do have many financing options available through 3rd party finance companies, OAC. Your drain technician can talk to you about your options.

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Pricing FAQ

A:

Our pricing is fair and transparent. It’s based on a fixed-price guide that considers the time, materials, and costs of running a reliable home services business. We don’t charge by the hour or inflate prices based on your neighborhood. We ask ourselves, “What does it take to get the job done?,” not “How much can we charge?”

Before we price your plumbing job, our licensed plumber will perform an in-home assessment to evaluate the tasks required. We only charge for what’s necessary—no fluff, no extra costs. This allows us to pinpoint areas where we can save you money without sacrificing quality.

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A:

Hourly rates can be unpredictable, leaving you unsure of the final cost until the job is done. We believe in upfront, fixed pricing based on the work itself—not guesswork. You won’t pay for delays or mistakes, and we hold ourselves accountable to ensure there are no surprises.

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A:

We prefer to price based on the job and not what other companies charge. Hourly rates can lead to unexpected costs for homeowners, making the final price unpredictable. By pricing the work itself, we make sure you’re only paying for what’s actually needed—keeping things fair and efficient.

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A:

Water heater replacements vary. Often, older units require updates to meet safety standards. Common items missing from many water heaters are flexible gas lines, expansion tanks, earthquake straps, gas sediment trap, upgrade exhaust venting, etc.

For an accurate quote, one of our licensed plumbers will inspect your existing system and provide a FREE estimate.

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A:

Our phone staff are not licensed plumbers, so they can’t quote prices that would be accurate to your project’s needs. A trained plumber needs to see the job firsthand to give you a clear, upfront price. Quotes over the phone are a guess, and we prefer transparency over uncertainty.

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A:

Ballpark prices can be misleading. Until we see the job, we can’t quote your final estimate accurately. Other companies may give an estimate range, but that often leads to additional costs and surprises later. Instead, we focus on giving you a fair price once a licensed plumber can assess the job properly.

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A:

We have a small dispatch fee to send our plumber to your home. Our plumbers will arrive in a truck stocked with thousands of parts. They’ll have everything they need to start your plumbing project while they’re at your home, unless the situation is unusual. They’ll perform a thorough evaluation of your plumbing system and explain what they’ll need to do to complete the work you called for. They’re not going to charge you by the hour, they will give you a total price, with options, before any of the work begins.

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A:

There are several large plumbing projects that we are willing to show you what options are available and the visit doesn’t cost you anything; basement finishes, water heater install/replacements, water softener installs/replacement, repiping, tankless water heater install/replacement etc. This is not a complete list so call us if you have questions about your project.

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A:

You will pay a little more to get a plumber to your home after hours but they do not charge more for the work you want them to perform. Our prices come directly from our pricing guide. We do not have a different set of plumbing prices for doing work in the evenings or on weekends. The price for the plumbing work you need done will be the same regardless of the time of day.

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A:

No, our plumbers run calls on Saturdays and charge the same price as they would any other day of the week. We do not have a different set of plumbing prices for work performed on Saturdays. We are closed on Sundays.

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A:

No, as long as you live in our service area, our plumbers can come to your home and help. We service homes from North Ogden, South to Nephi. West from the Tooele/Grantsville area, east to the Park City Heber area. Here is a full list of Utah Cities we service.

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A:

No, our plumbers don’t quote a price until they have seen your plumbing project. Once they quote a price, it doesn’t change, no matter how long it takes. At any time, you want to add more tasks to your plumbing project, your plumber will let you know how much it would cost to perform the extra work.

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A:

Yes, in addition to our coupons, we offer senior discounts and military discounts. You can receive 5% off or any special promotions we may be running, whichever is greater. You can ask your plumber to show you your savings.

Call Now

A:

You can pay for your plumbing service with cash, check, or any major credit card. We collect, in full, upon completion of the project. If you would like to make monthly payments, we do have many financing options available through 3rd party finance companies, OAC. Your plumber can talk to you about your options when they give you pricing options for the HVAC work you want completed.

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