Dimmer switch stuck off

[Nikk]

Hello

This might be ridiculous but I'm clueless so please forgive me!

My dimmer light switch no longer clicks on and off (dimmer doesn't work either). I clicked it off and it didn't click back, it's stuck clicked off I guess? When I press the dimmer switch in nothing happens. Honestly I don't mind if it's broken but I've heard horror stories about this being dangerous or causing fires.

Can someone let me know if this is at all a cause for concern or is it just a broken switch? Thanks

 

[Richard Burns]

Welcome to the forum.
A dimmer switch where the switch no longer works is fairly common, it just means that the switch is either caked up with dirt so the spring mechanism inside is blocked or little bits of plastic have melted of broken off inside and the contacts no longer make when pressed.
The cheapest and easiest thing to do is replace the dimmer switch.

It may be possible for there to be a fire risk but as the switch is off and presumably not hissing or crackling I think this is a very unlikely event.
The dimmer staying on may be more of a problem, but this is not the case here.