I have a floppy lightswitch! (And no, this is not a personal problem.)

[Beartracks]

To be clear, it is not the plate that's loose, but the actual standard up-and-down switch. It has lost its "snap." While the light still turns on when I push it up, the switch doesn't stay up completely but settles back down a bit from gravity. Similarly, there's no "snap" when pushing it down to turn the light off.

I have a similar problem on a side-to-side switch that has a trio of "rocker" switches for the fan and heater; the middle switch won't "snap" into position for on or off, and sometimes I almost can't get the fan to turn off without jamming on the switch.

Is this a broken switch thing? Or could it just be loose wires in the back somehow causing this problem? I'm just wanting to know what to perhaps expect before I turn off the power and get in there to (hopefully) fix these things.

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[SheltieLover]

1. Not sure buy I'd buy commercial grade replacements.

It only takes a few min to wire in replacements.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. Happens all the time.

Easy fix. Shut the circuit breaker off at the panel that controls the light switch. Remove plate....remove switch to box mounting screws. pull out ( should be plenty of wire to remove from box. Remove the wire from switch screws (2-3 )....go to hardware store and get equivalent switch....reverse the procedure described above.

[chicoescuela]

5. I'm a chickenshit.

I shut down the entire house in case of a potential ‘own goal’ by gramps.

[OAITW r.2.0]

7. A couple of weeks ago, I had to replace an outdoor light fixture.

I didn't bother shutting power from the circuit breaker, figuring the power was cut off at the light switch. While replacing the fixture, I gave myself a buzz. Turns out I had wired the neutral wire (white) to break switch power instead of the power wire (black). The switch still functioned, but this allowed the lighting fixture to remain hot.

[chicoescuela]

8. Exactly my point- safety first

[John1956PA]

3. The worst scenario regarding replacing the switch would be running into aluminum wiring.

It unlikely that you will run into aluminum wiring, since it was used only briefly in the 1970s. Over 99% of the wiring found in residences and apartments is made of copper.

[usonian]

4. Please replace. Janky switches can arc and cause fires if the contacts are not solidly made.

Simple test to see that the power is off:

Switch the light/lights on.

Find the breaker that turns them off. ALL OF THEM that are controlled by the switches in that box.

Put a piece of tape over the turned-off breaker. In case of clowns on the loose.

Extra Credit: a neon tester is fine, cheap for testing inside the switch box -- and see link below.

Of course, work by day or with a battery lantern, CUZ THE LIGHTS ARE OUT.

Go replace it per OAITW r.2.0 #2 above

While you are at it, replace all in the same box. They must be the same age and dangerous by now.

Or ask someone who has done it.

https://www.wikihow.com/Replace-a-Light-Switch

Some switches have screw terminals "loop the wire". Some have "push the wire in and screw it tight"

[ret5hd]

6. 1: it's a broken switch, not loose wires, definitely

2: spring for commercial grade (especially frequently plugged/unplugged outlets) whenever you replace electrical components. Buy once, cry once.