Light is very important when it comes to furnishing your new home and having the freedom to choose the brightness of your lighting can be just the comfort you need after a long day of work. Here,we will explain how to install the right device for that. The technology you need is called a dimmer switch.

Once you’ve chosen the switch you like best, it’s time to install it. Remember, all electrical work is recommended to be done by a certified electrician. The general steps in replacing a light switch with a dimmer are the following:Cut off the electricity supply. Never start an electrical project with a still active electrical current in the room you’re working in.

Remove the old switch. Unscrew the wall plate and gently pull the switch away. You should see a bundle of white wires. Use a voltage tester, to ensure power isn’t reaching the circuit (even if you cut off the electricity, better safe than sorry). Look for a wire labeled “common” and note it. Disconnect all wires.

Connect the new dimmer switch. For single-pole dimmers, you have to connect all ground wires from your dimmer to a green or bare copper wire in the wall box. Twist the ends together and cap them with a wire connector nut. Tighten a wire nut over each pair of wire ends. For a three-way switch only connect the black dimmer wire to the wire tagged “common” and remove the electrical tape. Connect the rest.

Replace the wall plate. Slowly push the wires back into the electrical box. Tighten the screws holding the dimmer to the electrical box. If you are installing a dimmer that has a removable knob, then remove it from the dimmer by gently pulling outward before attaching the wall plate. If the dimmer has a separate wall plate, tighten the mounting screws that hold the wall plate to the switch.

Switch on the electricity and test the dimmer.