How To Fix A Broken Floor Lamp Switch

A bad socket or a bad cord.

How to fix a broken floor lamp switch.

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. You can fix a lamp switch easily. Squeeze the socket shell to remove it from the lamp base then cut the wires attached to the old 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.

It s much easier than you think. To replace your lamp switch unplug the lamp and remove the light bulb and lamp shade. The first step is to unplug the lamp from the power outlet. Next we need to remove the old lamp switch.

You can find several varieties of lamp socket switches. 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. Since both of these issues involve taking apart the lamp it is wise to replace both items. Mark wanamaker demonstrates how to replace a lamp switch.

Spray a small shot of silicone spray on the bulb. 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. Carefully strip about 1 2 an inch of insulation off of the wires then reconnect the wires to the new switch. Every lamp switch either comes loose at some point during its lifetime or simply wears out.

This will eliminate the possibility of replacing one part only to have the problem be the part that was not replaced. Although not a complicated repair. 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. When a floor lamp stops working there are usually two causes for the problem.

A detailed step by step tutorial showing how to remove and replace a faulty 3 way switch for a table or floor lamp. Yes you can do it in less than 10 minutes.