Two way switch for hallway issue

[TNDU]

I found that the downstairs hall light would not turn on yesterday when I turn the switch in the downstairs hall on. However, when I went upstairs and turned the switch up there, which also control the light in the downastairs hallway, the light works. Then the switch downstairs started to work again after I had done this.

There is a two gang two way switch arrangement in the hall that controls the landing light and downstairs hallway from either level.

Anyone know why my problem was resolved when I went upstairs and used the switch up there first? Are my switches on their way out and will need replacing soon?That this will happen again soon enough? Thanks.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Anyone know why my problem was resolved when I went upstairs and used the switch up there first?

Yes.

Are my switches on their way out and will need replacing soon?That this will happen again soon enough? Thanks.

If they used to work then it sounds like a wire has become loose an is not making contact.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Or of course the switch has broken.

 

[TNDU]

Yes.


If they used to work then it sounds like a wire has become loose an is not making contact.

I opened the downstairs switch to look at the wires and nothing looked loose. I also opened the downstairs hall light and inspected the wires and again nothing looked loose. Yeah, I was wondering if the switch may be on their way out and so not passing current through every now and then. Just wondered if there is another explanation as I will replace the switches if this keeps happening.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Does the switch feel different one way than the other?

Wiggle it several times.

It could be a loose wire upstairs.

 

[TNDU]

Does the switch feel different one way than the other?

Wiggle it several times.

It could be a loose wire upstairs.

the problem has gone away already as i had mentioned in my original post, which appeared simply by me going upstairs and using the switch up there first. I am asking in case this problem comes back. I had a similar problem with this sort of set up from different locations in a room to control the bedroom ceiling light, where there was a switch by the bed and one by the door, both switches could control the light, and every now and then, one switch wouldn't work, but if you went to the other one to restart, it all works again It occurred every now and then. Very weird.

 

[EFLImpudence]

Not weird - just something not contacting occasionally.