If any of your light switches are warmer to the touch than room temperature, call an electrician right away. The only exception is dimmer switches, which are supposed to heat up to dissipate power. Below are the main factors that cause overheating.

Why Do Light Switches Overheat? 

1. Faulty Wiring

Your light switch may continue to work if wires are broken or loose but still touching. However, a hot switch is the first warning sign of danger. If the switch wasn’t wired correctly or the wires have been damaged, electricity flows through a smaller pathway and generates excess heat. This situation is a fire risk and should be dealt with by a professional electrician immediately. 

2. Worn Switches

Switches, which wear over time, may arc slightly when you use them. The electrical contacts across a circuit will spark when the switch is turned on because they don’t meet. When electricity moves freely across gaps and through smaller paths, it generates heat. As with faulty wiring, electrical discharge from arcing presents a fire risk that should be immediately addressed. 

3. Overloading 

Light switches have power limits that shouldn’t be exceeded. Switches in a home with a rating of 15 amps should be wired only with 15-amp lighting circuits. However, in homes where 15-amp switches are joined with 20-amp circuits, the overload causes them to heat up. If you have a 20-amp circuit, you need a 20-amp switch.

If your light switches are hot or you have any other electrical problems, contact ABC Electric Company in Lincoln, NE. The company has served residential, commercial, and industrial clients across the area since 1932. Their trusted electricians handle everything from security systems and computer cabling to parking lot lighting and electric charging stations. To learn more about their services, call (402) 435-3514, or visit their website to learn more about them.