October 30, 2026 · 4 min read

Dark Basement Stairs? Add a Light Switch at the Top and Bottom (Wauwatosa, WI)

If your basement or second-floor stairs in Wauwatosa only have a light switch at one end, or a pull chain at the bottom, Couillard Electric can add a switch at each level so you can light the stairs before you take the first step. With early sunsets after the clocks change this weekend, this is one of the simplest lighting upgrades that makes a home safer to walk at night.

Why one switch on a staircase is a problem

A single switch means someone always walks part of the stairs in the dark. You go down to the basement, flip the light on at the bottom, and then climb back up with no light, or you leave it burning all night. Pull-chain fixtures at the bottom of basement stairs are common in older homes, and they mean feeling your way down to find the string.

In November that gets worse. You're carrying laundry, holiday boxes, or a furnace filter, your hands are full, and the stairs are already dim by late afternoon. A switch at the top and the bottom fixes that.

What the electrical code says about stairway switches

For new stairway lighting, the National Electrical Code requires a wall-mounted control at each floor level when a stairway between floors has six or more risers. Section 210.70(A)(2)(3) of the 2023 NEC says that where lighting outlets are installed for an interior stairway with six or more risers between floor levels, there must be a listed wall-mounted control device at each floor level, and at each landing level that includes a stairway entry.

A landing in the middle of the stairs doesn't need its own switch unless you can enter or leave the stairs there. And five steps usually means six risers, so even a short run of stairs can count.

Wisconsin's electrical code, SPS 316, adopted the 2023 edition of the NEC effective September 1, 2026. That matters most when you're adding or changing wiring now: new work is done to the current code. An older staircase with one switch isn't automatically "wrong," but if you're updating it, it makes sense to do it the way the code now expects.

What the work usually involves

Most of the time, adding a switch at the second level means:

Replacing the single switch with a pair of three-way switches, one at the top and one at the bottom, so either one turns the stair light on or off.
Running new cable between the two switch locations and the light. In a finished stairwell, that can mean fishing wire through walls. In an unfinished basement, it's often more direct.
Swapping a pull-chain fixture for a fixture that's controlled by the wall switches.
Checking what's already there. Older homes can have old wiring, crowded boxes, or switches tied into other circuits. Those are worth checking before anything new is tied in. If you've seen knob-and-tube in your attic or basement, mention it when you call.

If your stairs have a landing with a door, like a side entry halfway down to the basement, that spot may need a switch too.

Pick the right bulb for the fixture

Once the switches are in, don't overlook the bulb. ESFI says to use light bulbs that match the recommended wattage on the fixture. A bulb with a higher wattage than the fixture is rated for can overheat the fixture, the wiring, or anything combustible nearby. The rating is usually printed on the fixture or near the socket.

LED bulbs draw far fewer watts for the same brightness, which helps. If your new LED flickers or buzzes on an old dimmer, the dimmer may not be made for LED loads. We wrote about that in our post on LED bulbs that flicker or buzz on old dimmers.

Signs your stair lighting needs a look

Call an electrician instead of just changing the bulb if you notice any of these:

The switch or cover plate feels warm.
The light flickers when you touch the switch, or when you walk on the stairs.
You hear buzzing or sizzling from the switch or fixture.
There's a burning smell, or scorch marks around the fixture or switch.
The breaker for that circuit trips repeatedly.

ESFI lists dim and flickering lights, buzzing or sizzling sounds, and breakers that trip repeatedly as signs of an electrical problem that should go to a qualified electrician.

What you can do this weekend

Walk your stairs after dark and note which ones only have a switch at one end.
Count the risers. Six or more between floors is where the code requires a switch at each level for new work.
Check the fixture's wattage rating against the bulb you're using.
Make a list of any warm switches, flickering lights, or pull chains you'd like replaced, so one visit can cover them.

Stairway and indoor lighting in Wauwatosa

We install and update indoor lighting and switches for homeowners in Wauwatosa and across our service area. See our lighting services and light fixture installation pages for more, or read about what Wisconsin's move to the 2023 NEC means for homeowners.

To set up a visit, contact Couillard Electric. We answer calls Mon–Fri 8–4.

Sources: EC&M Code Quiz: Interior Residential Stairway Switches, Electrical Contractor Magazine Stairway Switches, Elevator Pits and More, ESFI Home Electrical Fires, and the Wisconsin Legislature CR 26-016 rule text (SPS 316 adopts 2023 NEC, effective September 1, 2026), all checked 2026-10-30.