This one needs a licensed pro
Likely cause: a worn switch or a wiring fault
The bulb is good, every breaker is on and no GFCI has tripped. That leaves the switch itself or a connection behind it, which is a job for a licensed electrician.
Why this happens
Family Handyman says switches last for years and thousands of throws, but occasionally they wear out, and that a switch that feels loose or makes a loud snap or buzz when you use it might be bad. It also says a wiring problem between the panel, the switch and the light can keep a light from working, and that this is where it is best to call an electrician. CPSC says finding and repairing defects in a home's electrical system are jobs for qualified electrical professionals.
What to do right now
- Leave the switch off and stop flipping it.
- Think back to how it felt and sounded the last few times you used it: loose, or a loud snap. The electrician will want to know. If it buzzed, crackled or sparked, that is a warning sign. Start this guide again and answer Yes to the first question.
- Use other lights in that room for now.
- Call a licensed electrician. Checking and changing a switch means opening the box, so do not take the cover plate off.
When to stop. Any heat, buzzing, crackling, burning smell or spark at the switch: turn its breaker off and call now.
What to tell the licensed electrician
- Which switch it is and what it controls.
- That you tried a bulb you know works, checked every breaker and reset every GFCI you could find.
- How the switch feels and sounds, and whether it failed all at once or worked on and off first.
- The age of the house, and whether you know it has aluminum wiring.
Build the full list: what to tell the licensed electrician.
Start this troubleshooter over
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