Are you dealing with irritating flickering lights in your home or business? An occasional light flicker in your home is normal and may seem harmless. But if you’ve noticed flickering occur more often or has started happening regularly, and/or is severe, then it is time to investigate.
Flickering lights are the result of a reduction or a fluctuation in total household voltage that results in the lights dimming for a moment. Abrupt changes in voltage from low to high can damage electronics and in rare cases cause an electrical fire. Understanding some of the most common issues will help you know what to do to solve the problem.
Flickering or blinking lights are usually caused by one of the following:
- Problem with the bulb (not in tight enough, lightbulbs are incompatible with your dimmers)
- Loose light plug
- Faulty switch or dimmer
- Appliances or HVAC units pulling large amounts of current on startup, causing a voltage drop
Or there may be a bigger electrical issue:
- Sensory overload on a circuit
- Fluctuating electrical voltage
- Loose or outdated wiring connections
- Electric utility service issue
- Problem with the meter box or main service cable connection
Should you fix the flicker yourself or call an expert?
Some level of simple troubleshooting and repairing might be effective. For example if a dimmer switch is suspected, try replacing an LED bulb with a traditional incandescent bulb to see if that solves the problem. If you issue falls under the bigger electrical issue category then you may need a professional electrician to inspect it further.
Even if the flickering seems harmless, it could be a sign of a more serious underlying issue with your electrical wiring that could present a dangerous fire hazard to your home. It’s never a good idea to ignore a lighting or electrical problem. If simple troubleshooting doesn’t do the trick, don’t hesitate to call Zellner Electric, your electrician in New Braunfels at (830) 515.5953.
