Almar Q & A #1: Warm Light Switch

Why is my light switch warm?

Recently, we had a homeowner ask us why the dimmer for their chandelier was warn. Being concerned about this is something that is completely understandable. Light switches that seem warm can be alarming- however, it’s sometimes completely normal! Why do I have a warm light switch?

One of our great trade partners from Puopolo Electric answered this question in detail for our homeowner, and now for you! “The dimmer for the chandelier is expected to be warm to touch due to the type of lamps that are installed on the chandelier. The way a dimmer works is it uses metal plating around the switch to disperse heat. When using incandescent lamps (and the quantity in which the chandelier requires) the dimmer needs to release that heat or energy to properly dim the feature. It does that through the dimmer.”

It’s perfectly normal for light switches, particularly dimmers, to feel a little warm when the lights are on.

What about LED bulbs?

“If you switch to LED bulbs- which use less energy, the dimmer may be less warm.”

When should I be concerned?

A more serious problem would be if your light switch was too hot to touch. This can happen when a switch is overloaded, the switch is failing, or there is faulty or improper wire installation.

It’s recommended to reach out to an electrician if you are running into a hot light switch. Electrical work can be dangerous, the safest option is to contact a professional.

Stay tuned to our future blogs where we answer more of your questions and chat about all things remodeling. We post new blogs every Friday!

Call us today for your dream home renovation! Contact Almar (781-826-2577) and watch our videos.