Electrical Switch Repair and Replacement Service Singapore

Written and posted by Zames Chew on April 27, 2023

My team and I have replaced switches almost every day for the last seven years, and we have a lot to share about them. This article will help you find out the different problems you might face with switches, and how we can help you with them.

Switches are mechanical devices that you can use to control the flow of electricity to lights, ceiling fans, water heaters, and many more. Its components are durable, but they wear down and degrade over time with use. They should last a long time, but might stop working sooner because if they were not installed properly or are not of good quality.

If you are looking for a switch repair or replacement service, send us a message and an image of the switch you are looking to replace. We will provide you with a quotation and let you know when we can come to replace your switch.

Phone: +65 9070 6060
WhatsApp: +65 9070 6060 (Preferred)
Email: [email protected]

We can also install switches that you have already purchased, but it might cost more than if you had us supply and install them because we make larger purchases from our suppliers and get a better price.

What problems we can help you with
What switches we can replace
Why it might not be a switch problem
Switch replacement packages to consider

What switch problems we can repair

A simple one-gang light switch that we replaced

The switch does not turn on the lights

When a light switch does not turn on the lights, we find that it is usually the light that is faulty instead of the switch. But it can also be the switch that is broken. Either way, we can help you find out what is broken and needs repairing or replacing so that everything works again.

Solution: Our switch repair technician can replace your switch with a new switch after confirming that the switch is faulty.

A switch with broken buttons and exposed metal contacts

The cover or button on the switch is broken

If the cover or button on your switch is broken, we cannot replace it alone as we have to buy the whole switch as a set from our suppliers. If you are okay with us replacing the entire switch, send us a message with an image of your switch and request for switch replacement, we will let you know how much it will cost.

If any metal is visible on your loose, cracked, or broken switch, please stop using the switch to protect yourself from an electric shock. I was once shocked by the cover of a metal switch because it was not properly earthed. It was not a good experience.

Solution: Stop using the switch and contact us to replace our repair technicians to replace the broken switch with a new switch.

A switch with melted insulation and cables after it caught on fire

The switch feels hot to the touch

When a switch is turned on, it should not get hot. If it does, it means there is too much electrical resistance, which can be caused by too much electricity or a loose connection.

We see this more with switches connected to appliances like ovens and heaters, which draw more electricity than lights. If you do not fix the problem, the switch can become hotter with time and start to melt.

Solution: Turn off your switch at the circuit breaker and contact us for a switch repair service as your wires might be burnt.

A switch that was taped up because it is broken

There is a buzzing or crackling sound from the switch

If you hear a strange buzzing sound coming from your switch, it means that there is a problem with the electrical connection somewhere in the switch. The sound is from electricity arcing, which is when it "jumps" from one conductor to another conductor.

The insulation on the switch should prevent the electricity from causing an electric shock, but the arcing will still cause the switch to become hot and eventually melt the plastic insulation on the wire and switch around it. You should replace the switch when you face this problem.

Solution: Stop using your switch and contact us for a switch repair service.

A switch that was starting to melt and was giving off a burning smell

There is a burning smell from the switch

The burning smell coming from your switch is caused by melting or burning plastic and insulation. This happens when the switch overheats due to a loose connection or when an appliance or light draws too much electrical current for the switch to handle.

This is also the same reason for the sound and heat issues that I mentioned in the previous two problems. These problems are often interconnected, meaning that if one of them occurs, the other three are likely to show up eventually.

Solution: Turn off your switch at the circuit breaker and contact us for a repair service as your wires might be burnt.

A switch that was causing a circuit breaker to trip

Turning on the switch causes your circuit breaker to trip

If the circuit breaker trips when you turn on a light switch, it could be because the light fixture is faulty. Its ballast or driver might be the problem, but sometimes it could be the switch.

Whether your problem is with the light or the switch, we can help you fix the problem by repairing or replacing the broken parts. Send us a message and show us a video about the problem you are facing, we might be able to diagnose it without having to come down first.

Solution: Stop using the switch and contact us to arrange for us to diagnose the cause of the tripping.

What switches we can replace or repair

A standard one-gang one-way switch we installed

Normal light switches

These are your normal light switches that control the flow of electricity to a light or ceiling fan. When you flip this switch, it either allows or blocks the flow of electricity to turn a light or ceiling fan off or on. There might be more than one button on the switch to control more than one electrical circuit. Each button is called a gang.

We also have a page dedicated to our light switch repair and replacement service if you want to read more about that.

A water heater switch, single socket, and one-gang switch we installed

Water heater switches

A heater switch is a two-pole electrical switch that can usually handle a load of at least 20 amperes of electricity. It has an indicator light to show if the switch is on or off. This light is sometimes called a "neon" or "LED". This switch makes running a large appliance such as a water heater and oven safer.

We also have a page dedicated to our water heater switch repair and replacement service if you want to read more about that.

A one-gang two-way switch we installed

Two-way switches

Two way switches are switches that are wired such that a light can be turned on and off from two different switches in different areas. Two way switches are more difficult to replace than standard switches because they have a lot of wires.

We also have a page dedicated to our light switch repair and replacement service if you want to read more about that.

Dimmer switches

A basic dimmer switch with integrated off setting

Dimmer switches are switches that allow for lights to be dimmed. They work by regulating the amount of electricity that is allowed to flow to the light, thereby changing the intensity of the light. There are two types of dimmer switches, leading and trailing edge dimmers, and depending on which you have it might not be cheap to replace.

We also have a page dedicated to our dimmer switch repair and replacement service if you want to read more about that.

A stylish doorbell switch that is available with our upgraded package

Doorbell switches

A rocker switch is a type of electrical switch that is commonly used to activate a doorbell. The switch consists of a housing that contains a pivoting switch mechanism. The mechanism is connected to a pair of electrical contacts that open and close when the switch is pressed and released.

We also have a page dedicated to our doorbell chime and switch repair and replacement service if you want to read more about that.

A 20A isolator switch for an air-conditioner

Isolator switches

An isolator switch is a weatherproof switch that is used to disconnect a heavy appliance such as an air-conditioner and commercial kitchen equipment from the power supply. They are usually rectangular boxes with a large lever on the front.

When your isolator is not working, you can consider our isolator switch repair and replacement service to get them working again.

There are also electronic control subsection switches

In some cases, the switch may be functioning properly, but there could be a problem with a hidden toggle system in the ceiling. This system controls the number of lights that turn on when you flip the switch on and off repeatedly. For example, one light may turn on when you flip the switch once, and two lights may turn on when you flip it again. This system is connected to your switch and more than one light.

However, these toggle systems are not easy to find these days, and if we come across one, it may be difficult to find an exact replacement. In such cases, we can remove the system and convert the circuit back to a standard circuit where everything connected to the switch turns on when the switch is on.

Smart switches

We do not currently offer services for smart switches other than installation of smart switches that you have purchased yourself. This is because we do not have a reliable supplier for the parts and components required to service these systems, which makes it difficult for us to provide reliable service.

We are working on expanding our knowledge in this area by installing smart systems in our own homes, and you can look forward to these services in the future when they become more mainstream.

Hotel-style switches we can install in your home

Upgrade your switch with our packages

If you have a lot of switches broken around the home, we have packages for the replacement of sockets and switches. We also have a few different styles available. These packages cost a lot less than getting just one or two switches reaplced and are perfect for people with a lot of broken or old switches in their home.

These packages are coming soon to our website, but you can ask us about them on WhatsApp!

Conclusion

We can help you with a variety of switch problems, including those related to broken covers or buttons, switches that feel hot to the touch, switches that make buzzing or crackling sounds, and switches that emit a burning smell.

We offer switch repair and switch replacement services for normal switches, heater switches, two-way switches, dimmer switches, and isolator switches. However, we do not currently provide services beyond installation for smart switches.

We also offer packages for switch replacements, which can help save you money if you have multiple switches that need to be replaced.

If you are experiencing switch problems, send us a message on WhatsApp and an image or video of the problem you are facing. We will let you know what we can do to help you and how much it will cost for switch repair.

Talk to you soon!

Once again, the quickest way to get an answer to a question (such as cost and availability) that was not answered or to book an appointment with our electricians is to send us a WhatsApp message and tell us how we can help you.

We look forward to speaking with you soon!

Phone: +65 9070 6060
WhatsApp: +65 9070 6060 (Preferred)
Email: [email protected]

We serve customers from Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm. And we respond to enquiries whenever we can and usually beyond our working hours.

Repairs.sg

229 Mountbatten Road, #01-01 Mountbatten Square, Singapore 398007

Our registered address and storage facilities are closed to the public.

We exist to make it easy for you to take care of your property.

Thank you for supporting our small business!

Written by

Zames Chew

Zames is the co-founder of Repairs.sg and a skilled technician with seven years of hands-on experience serving thousands of customers in the field. He holds a builder certificate in plumbing and pipefitting and an air-conditioner installer's license. He is concurrently enrolled in the Licensed Electrician Preparatory Course at Singapore Polytechnic, attending classes in the evenings to pursue his electrician's license while co-managing the operations of Repairs.sg during the day.