How To Fix A Broken Floor Lamp Switch

A detailed step by step tutorial showing how to remove and replace a faulty 3 way switch for a table or floor lamp.

How to fix a broken floor lamp switch.

If your favorite lamp no longer comes on when you turn the switch or comes on and then goes off again you don t have to throw it out and buy a new one. These parts are standard. Although not a complicated repair. You can fix a lamp switch easily.

To replace your lamp switch unplug the lamp and remove the light bulb and lamp shade. You control some by pushing a short shaft on the side of the switch others by turning a knob and still others with a pull chain. Depending on the brand and type of the lamp and switch you will either be able to open the switch up with a screwdriver and unscrew the wires or you may need to cut the cord as close as possible to the lamp cord switch. Every lamp switch either comes loose at some point during its lifetime or simply wears out.

When a floor lamp stops working there are usually two causes for the problem. Spray a small shot of silicone spray on the bulb. A bad socket or a bad cord. This will eliminate the possibility of replacing one part only to have the problem be the part that was not replaced.

You can buy lamp cord by the foot and you can use just about any type of plug to replace the one on your old lamp. How to replace a rotary switch on a floor lamp. It s much easier than you think. Next we need to remove the old lamp switch.

You can find several varieties of lamp socket switches. Carefully strip about 1 2 an inch of insulation off of the wires then reconnect the wires to the new switch. Replacing the rotary switch on a floor lamp is a project that even a beginner can complete without difficulty. When the base cover is removed on an older lamp and the switch is clearly broken the switch is non repairable and will need to be replaced.

Mark wanamaker demonstrates how to replace a lamp switch. The first step is to unplug the lamp from the power outlet.