There are few things more annoying than flickering lights. It’s an issue many homeowners experience at one time or another and it should be addressed quickly. There may be a simple fix, but if there’s a serious underlying issue it can cause devastating damage. So what could cause a light to flicker?
Loose bulb. This is the simplest reason a light may be flickering. Check to see if it’s screwed in all the way. Be sure to turn the light off first. If it’s been on for a while, the bulb may be hot, so wait for it to cool down or wear a glove to protect your hand from burns.
Faulty bulb. Light bulbs don’t last forever. They need to be replaced on a regular basis and the flickering could indicate that the bulb is defective or simply dying out. Turn off the light, unscrew the bulb, and replace it with another.
Faulty switch. Maybe the light switch isn’t connecting properly to the bulb. Toggle the switch a few times and see if that triggers a flicker. The problem may fix itself with a few toggles, but if it doesn’t or if you have to do this multiple times in a short period, it’s best to replace the switch.
Voltage fluctuation. Large appliances with high wattage pull a lot of electricity, causing the voltage to fluctuate on other lights/appliances connected to the same circuit. A little bit of voltage fluctuation is normal, but if it seems excessive, call a certified electrician.
Too many lights on a circuit. Overloaded circuits are dangerous. You may have too many lights, outlets, or appliances connected to one circuit. Try unplugging them and distributing the current evenly to other circuits. A licensed electrician can check your breakers for overload.
Loose connections. A loose electrical connection in your main electrical panel is a serious problem and the cause of most house fires. It should be addressed right away. Turn off the light at the circuit breaker and check the fixture for loose wires. If you’re uncomfortable or not sure, call a licensed electrician.
Power grid problem. This is usually a last case scenario if nothing else seems to be causing the flickering. Ask your neighbors if they’ve also been experiencing flickering lights. The power supply to your area may be insufficient or is being interrupted. Call your electric company and ask them to inspect the line coming into your home.
Working with electricity is extremely dangerous. Many injuries, and even deaths, are caused each year due to unsafe electrical practices. No matter how small the issue, you should call an electrician if you’re inexperienced.
Last month our lights kept flickering a lot and we couldn’t find the reason why. We ended up calling an electrician who, after inspecting the situation, told us that we had a loose connection and that it looked like it had even been scorching a little bit. He said that if we hadn’t called for professional help then our home would probably have caught fire within a couple of days. I am so happy that that didn’t happen and that we were able to get the issue resolved. How do loose connections happen? I think that knowing this would help us to prevent it from happening again in the future.
It makes sense that overloaded circuits could be the cause of flickering lights. My dad has a few of his woodshop machines connected to one circuit. I’ll suggest he calls an electrician to help him out installing another electric line for his machines.
All of the lights in my bedroom have been flickering for no reason at all. I think I’ll call an electrical contractor to check if the wirings are still intact. Thanks for saying that an excessive fluctuating voltage needs to be addressed by an electrician, so I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for that.
My sister said to me that when she closed the door to the bathroom yesterday since she’s going to get her towel for a shower, it began to flicker when she opened the lights again. It’s interesting to know that it may be caused by a light switch that isn’t connecting properly to the bulb. I think this should be assessed by an electrical contracting company so that we can use the bathroom again without having to use flashlights as our light source.
Great Article! I agree about the comment regarding overloading lighting circuits but that seems to have changed over the last couple years as LED lighting draws so little.
Do you have fluorescent bulbs? They have a tendency to flicker, especially as they power up or in cold temperatures. If your fluorescent lights flicker occasionally, it’s probably nothing to worry about.
Thank you for telling me that seeing flickering lights might be a sign of an overloaded circuit. I observed this at a nearby diner yesterday and it happened several times while we were eating there. I hope the owner hires an electrician who can provide commercial maintenance services to ensure that this won’t cause any dangers to the customers or his staff.