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Replacing a light switch may seem like a simple job, but it requires some basic electrical knowledge, and may end up becoming quite confusing if you don’t know what to do.

Always make sure that you read the instruction manual that comes with your new switch plate cover before you begin work, and if you don’t feel confident get a qualified electrician to do it instead.

Step One: Turn Off The Power Supply
Turn off the power at the fuse box before you do anything. If you switch the light on in the room that you’re working in then you can check that you’ve flipped the right switch.

Step Two: Remove the Light Switch Plate Cover
Using an insulated screwdriver, unscrew the screws from the front of the plate. Then pull it carefully towards you to reveal the connecting wires.

Step Three: Check the Switch Isn’t Live
Using a proprietary test lamp, or a two-pole voltage detector; test whether the wires are live. If they are, do not continue as it is not safe. Check that the power is off as in Step One. Providing they are not live, then you can proceed as normal.

Step Four: Note the Connecting Sequence
The number of wires may vary depending on the type of switch you have. Make a note of which wire connects to which terminal in case you forget or the instructions are confusing. Taking a picture with a mobile device may help.

Step Five: Disconnect The Switch Cover
Using your insulated screwdriver, disconnect the wires from the switch plate.

Step Six: Replacing Your Switch
Your new switch will have instructions on how to wire it correctly, so following these would be the best course of action. It should be wired in the same way as the previous switch cover, whether it was a one way switch, a two way switch or an intermediate switch. You should however, always make sure that the bare earth wire is covered by a green and yellow insulating sleeve. If there is no earth wire then do not use a metal plate cover. Live wires are ‘line conductors’ and need to be insulated with a brown cover.

If you’re interested in new light switches or plug plate covers, then you can buy Light Switches Online at Harbro in a variety of attractive styles that will add the finishing touches to your newly decorated room.

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Nobody can deny the benefits of sunlight. It can add warmth and brightness into almost any room or area of your home. Whether you’re looking for a way to light up your room (and mood) or you just want to make a statement in certain areas of your house, installing skylights can be the perfect solution.

There are a few distinct advantages of natural light when compared to standard bulbs and tube lights, keep on reading to know these wonderful benefits.

1) Morale Boost

Most people will agree that they are in better spirits when springtime begins to replace the gloominess of winter. But this moral boosting affect is not because of the change in temperature. What many people do not understand is that there is a scientific explanation for this. Many people suffer from a winter condition known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), and the biggest cause of this condition is a lack of exposure to the sun. Sunlight boosts the body’s production of serotonin, which in turn improves our mood. Skylights can allow exposure to the sunlight that most people would never get during the winter month. As a result, it provides the perfect boosts for your mood and morale.

2) Visual Impact

Natural skylights offer so much more than some extra sunshine into the rooms. One of the biggest advantages is that they will make your room or any other area a bit more spacey. By brightening up the corners and reducing shadows throughout the room it will make even small rooms seem a bit more open, airy, and larger than they really are. It’s a great way to make cramped or claustrophobic rooms feel comfortable and spacious—whatever rooms of the home they may be.

3) Save Money

Not only skylights can help cut down the energy cost for lighting the rooms during the daytime, but they can also help save on heating and cooling bills in a big way. In winter, they can help lower energy consumption by making the home feel warmer. Vented skylights can be an amazing help during the hottest months of summer. When heat rises, the skylights can be vented in order to allow the heat to go out. It will get rid of warm air from the home so the cooling units are able to operate more efficiently.

4) Better Resale Value

You’ll get a significant ROI (return on investment) for the money that is spent installing skylights in your home, when you decide to sell or rent your home. It’s one of those inexpensive yet highly effective investments you can make on home improvement that will provide a sufficient return. To make a long story short, almost all people like natural lighting. Large windows and skylights are attractive to potential buyers and it increases the value of the home.

5) Greener Living

People around the world are taking steps to limit their “carbon footprint”. Skylights are one of the many ways for a common home owner to play his/her part for saving energy. Whether it’s reducing the need for gas to heat your home in winter or electricity to light up your rooms, skylights can add a great deal of “green” value to almost any home or office throughout the year. Not only, you are playing your role in protecting the planet, but you’re also saving money on utility bills in the process.

All things considered, it’s hard to disagree with the many benefits skylights can bring to your home or office, from ambiance to energy efficiency, skylights can add so much to your house.

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We like this upcycling idea, just be sure not to undertake the making process directly after the emptying process!

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The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) is trying to raise awareness of electrical safety in the home among new parents.  

This prompted us at DIY Doctor to join our voice to that of the ESC, and MumsNet, who are also concerned about this problem. In the UK each year there are approximately 350,000 electrical related accidents in their homes and sadly around 50 of these are fatal. In addition to direct injury the fire brigade report that 50% of household fires are caused by electrical faults.

New parents are understandably anxious to protect their children and spend lots of money on safety devices such as socket covers, but what they are not considering is whether their system is as safe as it could be.

‘If your wiring is unsafe, buying such localised protection is like putting a sticking plaster on the problem,’ explains Mike Edwards CEO of DIY Doctor ‘I am not saying parents shouldn’t use these safety devices on sockets, but they should not feel that it is a failsafe method of avoiding electrocution’. He believes that many householders are not aware of the benefit of getting a Residual Current Device (RCD) installed by a qualified electrician. RCD’s are designed to trip if there is any fault or short circuit. So if you mistakenly damage a cable while drilling into walls, or a child pokes something into a socket, the RCD will shut off the electric supply to that area. Read more about RCD’s in our Consumer Unit Project.

Consumer Unit showing an RCD (E)

What can you do?
Have your system checked by a qualified electrician and invest in an RCD if you don’t already have one. Having made sure the system is safe don’t do anything that may damage it. When you are drilling into walls make sure you avoid any cables by searching for them before you drill using a cable detector.

Don’t forget, all but the most basic electrical work should be carried out by a qualified electrician. This follows an amendment to the building regulations and is covered in greater detail in our Part P Project.

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In addition to the videos on domestic water and plumbing systems, we have now added a series of six videos to YouTube all about domestic electricity and how the electrics in your home work.

The series of videos explain how electricity enters your home, about consumer units, RCD’s, MCB’s and surge protection, lighting circuits and switches, ring mains and radial circuits, how external electrical items are supplied and what protects them, and how garden electrical installation such as pond pumps and filters work.

Each video is between two and six and a half minutes long, so you can watch them individually or as a series to learn about domestic electricity systems.

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