Real Video Chat: Leonard Wires a 3-Way Switch for his Ceiling Fan

Leonard hopped on the Frontdoor app and in minutes was connected with electrical Expert Jeremiah. Together, they set out to figure out what went wrong with the 3-way switch installation and how to fix it.

How Frontdoor came to the rescue

The call

As a former airplane mechanic, Leonard isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and tackle home projects himself. But this time, he was confused about how to wire a 3-way fan light switch. 

In Leonard’s home, the patio lights and fan could be controlled from three locations—a classic 3-way setup—with switches in the bedroom, living room, and bathroom. He had only replaced the bedroom switches, carefully restoring the wires as they had been connected before.

At first glance, Jeremiah agreed that the wiring looked correct: black wires attached to the “common” screws and red/white wires running as travelers. To dig deeper, Jeremiah suggested Leonard grab a multimeter so they could test the wiring and see what was really happening.

The diagnosis

With the multimeter, Leonard could check the AC voltage on each wire, helping them confirm the true roles of the connections. Jeremiah coached him through temporarily removing the switches to test the wires one by one.

That’s when they discovered the issue: the white wire had been misidentified. Instead of serving as the common, it had been wired as a traveler, causing the switches to malfunction.

The solution

Once they pinpointed the problem in their 3-way switch installation, the fix was straightforward. Leonard clearly marked the white wire as the common, then reconnected the travelers in their proper places. After restoring the wires, the switches in all three locations worked perfectly again.

Leonard was thrilled with the outcome. “You’re brilliant, man,” he told Jeremiah. “Nah, it was all you!” Jeremiah replied with a smile.

What is a 3-way light switch?

A 3-way switch is a type of light switch that lets you control one light fixture from two different locations. For example, in Leonard’s case these switches were used in rooms with multiple entrances, or to control outdoor lights. Installing a 3-way switch can be more convenient than a standard single-pole switch, which only controls the light from one spot.

What sets a 3-way switch apart is the wiring. Instead of just two terminals like a single-pole switch, a 3-way has three screw terminals—one common terminal and two “traveler” terminals—plus a ground for safety.

Power comes into the common terminal on one switch, travels along one of the two traveler wires, and then connects through the second switch to the light fixture. When both switches are in the same position, the circuit completes and the light turns on. Flip either switch, and you break the circuit, turning the light off.

How to wire a 3-way light switch

The process of how to wire a 3-way fan light switch sounds complicated, but at its core, the process is about swapping an old switch for a new one, one wire at a time. It can be a great option if you’re looking to upgrade your home lighting.

1. Turn off power at the breaker, and confirm with a voltage tester.
2. Remove the old switch carefully, snapping a photo of the wiring before you disconnect anything.
3. Swap wires onto the new switch: move the common wire, then the two travelers, then the ground, matching terminal colors as you go.
4. Secure and test: tape the terminals, screw the switch back in, and flip the breaker back on.

Of course, electrical projects deserve more than a quick skim. For a step-by-step guide to installing a 3-way switch, check out our in-depth article on how to wire a 3-way light switch.

Real Experts, real solutions

Even the most confident DIYers can use a little guidance sometimes. And that’s exactly what Leonard found with Jeremiah’s help. Their teamwork turned a frustrating electrical issue into a wiring win.

When you become a Frontdoor member, you don’t just get “guides on how to wire” a 3-way fan light switch—you get access to Experts across plumbing, HVAC, appliances, and more.

Ready to go beyond electrical? Download the Frontdoor app today, and explore the blog for more how-to guides and real stories from homeowners just like you.