When you’re on the set of a horror movie, flickering lights might be a sign of a ghostly presence or demonic possession. But in your own house, flickering lights are less of a spooky way to set the scene and more of a distracting nuisance. Not to mention, sometimes it can be a sign it’s time to call an electrician. Here are some of the reasons why your lights might be flickering, along with signs that you might need indoor lighting services professionals to fix the problem.
Bad Bulbs
If one light is flickering in a single room, turn the light off, wait for the light bulb to cool down, and inspect the bulb. A bulb that is near the end of its life or has a loose connection might cause your light source to flicker. In that case, it’s a simple fix. All you need to do is screw the bulb more securely into the socket or replace the bulb.
You may also experience flickering lights if you’re using fluorescent bulbs. These tend to flicker when first turned on, especially when it’s particularly cold or when you’re using them with incompatible dimmers. Make sure you know what kind of dimmer switches your lights require and change them out if the flickering gets on your nerves.
Voltage Variation
Do your lights start flickering after you turn on large appliances like your dryer or furnace? You might have a case of voltage fluctuation. When this happens, one source is utilizing most of the electrical power, so the rest of your electricity is limited. While it isn’t uncommon for this to happen occasionally, if it’s happening every time, it means your appliances are not wired to their maximum ampacity. Consider contacting an electrician in order to strengthen their connection.
Crummy Circuits
Are your flickering lights limited to one room or area, but the flickering is happening across several light fixtures? It might be your circuits. Your home might not be able to handle supplying power to all of your electronics because your circuits are overloaded, and your circuit breaker is reacting in order to prevent your electrical system from damage.
Overloaded circuits can also cause your lights to flicker if you have several high-power appliances or devices plugged into one electrical outlet or you’re using a lot of multi-port power strips. Overcrowding your circuits this way is a fire hazard and an electrocution risk. Limit the number of items plugged in within one room and especially one single outlet. Consider getting additional electrical outlets installed by a professional if you find yourself constantly unplugging power cables so you can use your outlets.
Wonky Wires
Frayed or loose wiring in your electrical system can cause faulty service cable connections. Outdated wiring needs to be replaced with high capacity wires that can handle supplying the kind of power that is necessary for a modern-day household. But, before you reach for that electrical panel, think twice. While a wire’s job of transferring power from A to B is — literally — straightforward, wire maintenance is not. If you suspect your wires might be the cause of your flickering lights, call an electrician immediately, or house fires may result. In fact, damaged wires and connections are a leading cause of home electrical fires. Home electrical fires cause almost 1.5 billion dollars in property damage per year in the United States and can result in severe injury or death.
Are you having other electrical problems? Read our piece on how to tell if a slow blow fuse is blown. Thinking about protecting your home from power surges? Learn about the benefits of whole-house surge protection.
Our team wants to help you get the power your home needs and, most importantly, the safety your home deserves. Contact us today and experience our 24/7 service, up-front pricing, and satisfaction guarantee!