If you’ve noticed that the lights in one or more of your rooms have been experiencing issues, there could be a few different factors causing it. While an occasional dimming is bound to happen, regular or severe flickering and outages are serious. Check to see if it’s for one of these reasons.
The cause of flickering lights is generally easy to diagnose.
Probable Causes of Flickering lights
- Issue with the bulb: If just a single bulb is flickering, there is usually a simple fix. Your bulb may have come loose or is not screwed in properly. Try adjusting the bulb in the socket and see if that’s better. If you’ve used an incompatible bulb for your dimmer switch, it’s likely the light will blink and not work well–dimmers do best with incandescent bulbs or dimmable CFLs.
- Problems with the light plug: When just a single desk lamp or other fixture with plugs is giving you trouble, their plug may be loose. Try adjusting the prongs, or plug into a different outlet.
- Sensitive light switch: Lights can also blink if the light switch is loose and tends to fall into the “off” position. Toggle the switch of your flickering light slightly, and see if it causes noticeable dimming or flickering. If so, replacing the switch should solve your problems.
- Voltage drop from appliances: Large appliances like the HVAC or washing machine can decrease power to other outlets when they initially turn on. While it’s not an issue if the flickering is infrequent, if you notice that your lights are constantly dimming while your appliances are running, that’s a sign that the circuit is overloaded. An overloaded circuit has too much power being drawn at once. An electrician will be able to pinpoint the issue and provide solutions for your specific situation.
These first four causes are the most common reasons why one or more of your lights is flickering. If you’ve ruled out all of them as a possibility, then your problem may be more serious.
- Old, damaged, or loose wiring: This is the number one cause of house fires. Loose wiring tends to get hot and produce sparks, so you’ll want to check regularly and rule this option out quickly if you notice flickering lights.
- Overloaded transformers: Even if your wiring and lights are in good condition, your neighbor’s electricity usage may be causing your lights to flicker. If other neighbors mention flickering lights as well, your transformer might be experiencing an issue. You can report electrical concerns to your power supplier.
- Fluctuating power: Irregular bursts or reduction of the volts flowing through your home causes lights to flicker erratically. Using a voltmeter, you can check the output of your electrical system. Ideally it should be putting out between 115 and 125 volts; any more or less than that indicates an issue that should be identified by an electrician.
- Main service cable issues: If the lights in your entire house are dimming simultaneously, there is a problem with the service box where your main power cable is connected. Call an electrician to fix the problem, as the wires that provide your home’s power are extremely hazardous.
Electrical issues may be easily fixed, but can be dangerous if you are unfamiliar with how to work with electrical systems. Homeowners should call a licensed and insured electrician to ensure that the job is done correctly and safely.
Promise Electric provides professional electrical services to Sarasota area home and business owners, and employs master electricians to guarantee the highest level of proficiency.
- Issue with the bulb: If just a single bulb is flickering, there is usually a simple fix. Your bulb may have come loose or is not screwed in properly. Try adjusting the bulb in the socket and see if that’s better. If you’ve used an incompatible bulb for your dimmer switch, it’s likely the light will blink and not work well–dimmers do best with incandescent bulbs or dimmable CFLs.
- Problems with the light plug: When just a single desk lamp or other fixture with plugs is giving you trouble, their plug may be loose. Try adjusting the prongs, or plug into a different outlet.
- Sensitive light switch: Lights can also blink if the light switch is loose and tends to fall into the “off” position. Toggle the switch of your flickering light slightly, and see if it causes noticeable dimming or flickering. If so, replacing the switch should solve your problems.
- Voltage drop from appliances: Large appliances like the HVAC or washing machine can decrease power to other outlets when they initially turn on. While it’s not an issue if the flickering is infrequent, if you notice that your lights are constantly dimming while your appliances are running, that’s a sign that the circuit is overloaded. An overloaded circuit has too much power being drawn at once. An electrician will be able to pinpoint the issue and provide solutions for your specific situation.
These first four causes are the most common reasons why one or more of your lights is flickering. If you’ve ruled out all of them as a possibility, then your problem may be more serious.
- Old, damaged, or loose wiring: This is the number one cause of house fires. Loose wiring tends to get hot and produce sparks, so you’ll want to check regularly and rule this option out quickly if you notice flickering lights.
- Overloaded transformers: Even if your wiring and lights are in good condition, your neighbor’s electricity usage may be causing your lights to flicker. If other neighbors mention flickering lights as well, your transformer might be experiencing an issue. You can report electrical concerns to your power supplier.
- Fluctuating power: Irregular bursts or reduction of the volts flowing through your home causes lights to flicker erratically. Using a voltmeter, you can check the output of your electrical system. Ideally it should be putting out between 115 and 125 volts; any more or less than that indicates an issue that should be identified by an electrician.
- Main service cable issues: If the lights in your entire house are dimming simultaneously, there is a problem with the service box where your main power cable is connected. Call an electrician to fix the problem, as the wires that provide your home’s power are extremely hazardous.
Electrical issues may be easily fixed, but can be dangerous if you are unfamiliar with how to work with electrical systems. Homeowners should call a licensed and insured electrician to ensure that the job is done correctly and safely.
Promise Electric provides professional electrical services to Sarasota area home and business owners, and employs master electricians to guarantee the highest level of proficiency.
