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Step 1
Stop! It is very important to make sure the circuit you are going to be working on is off, dead, has no power! Go to your breaker / fuse box and turn off or disable the circuit you will be working on!
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Step 2
NOTE! PLEASE READ AND REREAD STEP ONE, ELECTROCUTION IS NOT FUN EVEN IF IT DOESN'T KILL YOU!!!
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Step 3
Using a insulated handle screw driver, carefully remove the face plate retaining screw / screws, (counter clockwise).
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Step 4
Carefully remove the face plate by pulling it straight out.
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Step 5
At this point before touching anything inside, again check that the circuit is dead, use a multimeter if you have one. If you followed step one you should be good to go, but it never hurts to double check, better safe than sorry!
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Step 6
Remove the switch retaining screws (counter clockwise). Most commonly there will be 2, one at the top and one at the bottom.
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Step 7
Pull the switch straight out, being careful not to kink or force the attached wires!
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Step 8
Note the position and location of the attached wires. Mark them with tape or draw a diagram on paper, they must be replaced on the new switch exactly as you see them. This is a very important step, don't skip it. If you get the wires crossed you could end up with a dead short and a possible fire!!!
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Step 9
Remove the wires from the old switch. If the switch has screw lugs, just use a screw driver (counter clockwise). If you find the wires seem to be just stuck in, there are spring clip release holes in the back for each wire. Insert a paper clip or similar item and then pull on the wire.
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Step 10
To replace the new switch, make sure to orient it correctly: OFF should be down. Now just follow the above steps in reverse. You might have to fiddle with the wires a bit to get the new switch to mount correctly, just make sure you don't loosen them in the process.
