Light Switch Crackling & Warming Up

[marklogan]

Hi

My double light switch in the kitchen has started crackling (as if it's sparking behind the switch). Every now and again the whole light switch seems to get warm. I had an electrician look at it and at the time he couldn't find anything wrong with the wiring and couldn't replicate the problem where it was getting warm. It's just an intermitant problem though.

The crackling noise has got me worried this morning though in case I've got to get all my tiles ripped off the wall to get new wiring.

Any advice of information would be greatly appreciated

Thanks
Mark

[HayZee518]

why new wiring? are the switches fed off knob n tube? first recourse, replace the switches. all switches arc to some degree because it is their job to make and break the current path to their loads. if the load is greater than the switch is rated at, contact destruction will occur sooner and you'll have more arcing and some heat from a high resistance source.