If you’re experiencing dimming or flickering lights in your home, don’t dismiss it as simply an annoyance. While there are some situations sort of a loose connection that is easy to fix, it might be a dangerous electrical issue that needs to be addressed as quickly as possible.
Knowing when flickering or blinking lights is a simple solution and when it’s time to call an electrician before someone gets shocked or before any electrical fires break out. Not every flicker of the lights indicates a significant issue. These are simple & easy things to test that sometimes get overlooked by some homeowners.
You might be one of the lucky ones and discover the issue is caused by something as simple as loose connections with a light bulb, a loose light plug that’s not completely plugged into an outlet, or a private light switch or light fixture that needs to be replaced.
- Loose Bulb
If you notice an occasional light flicker with just one light or consistently when a large appliance kicks in, it’s going to be a simple culprit. Light bulbs that are loose within the socket will receive an inconsistent power supply, which causes the sparkle. Turn off the light. await the bulb to cool down before touching it. Check to form sure the light bulb is screwed in tightly and that it is the right kind of bulb for the fixture. - Sort of Bulb The flickering or blinking lights might be due to the type of bulb you are using. A fluorescent bulb, for example, tends to flicker when it’s warming up.
- Dimmer Switch Bulbs If you’re using a dimmer switch, ensure the light bulb is compliant. it’s going to be as simple as loose bulbs or the wrong bulb type for your dimmer switches. LED bulbs often flicker once used with a dimmer switch since they are incompatible with non-LED dimmers. you would possibly even want to swap your bulb out for a smart bulb that won’t need a physical dimmer switch. It might be a faulty light switch if this does not do the trick.
- Loose Plug Connection Also, ensure that your plug has not come loose from the outlet. If the prongs on the plug are bent, simply unplug it and pry the metal prongs open before plugging it back in.
Flickering lights are often a warning sign that there is a fire hazard in your home. When lights flicker everywhere in the house and are not associated with a large or major appliance, like an air conditioner, turning thereon could mean that there is an issue with the wiring, which could cause a fireplace.
A bad breaker can cause lights to flicker, especially when an outsized appliance powers on. A high-wattage appliance will pull a substantial load of current on startup. If the central breaker is overloaded, it’s going to cause lights to flicker but also indicates a larger problem that will require an expert to troubleshoot and fix.
