Light switch sparks and won't stay on
A light switch that sparks and only stays on when flipped very gradually points to a failing internal mechanism or loose wire. This makes normal use a genuine hazard that prevents safe operation of the lights until the switch is replaced or repaired.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1Flipping the switch very gradually
- 2Turning off the circuit breaker until the switch is replaced
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 2Why does turning off the light switch turn off the outlet?
- 8Why does running multiple appliances trip the circuit breaker?
- 4Why does the gas pump keep clicking off when my tank isn't full?
- 3Why does my dishwasher keep tripping the circuit breaker?
- 4Why does my electrical outlet only work sometimes?
- 4How to trace an intermittent short circuit in a car wiring harness