18 Dec Troubleshooting Lights Flickering

Share

 

Do you have flickering lights in your home? Flickering lights can be quite frustrating. Even more, they can indicate a potential fire hazard. Therefore, you should enlist the services of an electrician in Springdale, AR, as soon as possible. Mister Sparky Electrician NWA has knowledgeable and professional electricians providing residential and commercial electrical services in Springdale and the surrounding areas. Just look for the big red trucks!

Flickering Lights

 

Why Are My Lights Flickering?

Sometimes, a loose light bulb can cause your lights to flicker. You will start by securing the light bulbs into the light fixtures and replacing the bulbs. However, if the light continues to flicker even after you’ve replaced the lightbulb and tightened any loose connections, you most likely have an old or faulty wall switch. Sometimes, the problem will be with the wiring to a particular outlet. Alternatively, the problem can be that you put too much power on one outlet, and it’s overloading the circuit.

Why Are My LED Lights Flickering?

There are several reasons why LED lights may start to flicker, including:

  • Low frequency
  • Incompatible dimmer switch
  • Faulty LED bulbs
  • Faulty wiring

Since LED lights don’t dim like normal lights, if your LED lights are on a dimmer, that should be the first thing you consider.

Can Flickering Lights Cause a Fire?

If you continuously have lights flickering, it can indicate a serious problem with your property’s electrical system, such as old or faulty wiring, that can lead to an electrical fire.

If you notice smoke or fire, immediately shut off electricity to the affected area. You can use baking soda or an electrical fire-grade fire extinguisher to put out any small fires.

Lights Flickering In One Room

Suppose the lights only flicker in one room of your house. In that case, the problem is likely a loose service conductor in the central electrical panel.

Lights Flickering When AC Turns On

If the lights flicker when you turn the AC on, it can indicate that the outlet can’t support the electrical requirements put on it. This same situation can apply to all large appliances.

Your home’s outlets should fluctuate between 115 to 125 volts. If more electrical voltage enters the outlet, you can have overloaded circuits. In this case, you must upgrade the outlet at the circuit breaker.

Lights Flickering with a Generator

A generator offers a supplemental energy supply for when your home’s power goes out. Your lights may flicker when using your generator if there are voltage fluctuations or an unstable excitation system.

Lights Flickering with a Dimmer Switch

One of the main problems with putting lights on a dimmer switch is that not all dimmer switches can support a wide range of lights. For example, fluorescent, LED, or certain CFL light bulbs may not be compatible with your particular light switch.

Addressing the Risks Associated with Flickering Lights

Flickering isn’t only annoying, it can indicate safety issues with your home’s electrical system. However, that depends on what is causing your lights to flicker.

In the worst-case scenario, you can end up with an electrical fire.

Connection Between Lights Flickering and Buzzing Sound

When a buzzing sound accompanies fluttering lights, it can indicate arching. Arching happens when adjoining wire connections complete an electrical current by electrons that float and connect through the small gap. It generates heat so that it can create hazardous conditions in your home.

How to Fix Flickering Lights

While it is important to limit electrical DIY repairs due to safety concerns, you can take some steps to repair your lights on your own.

The first thing to do is to replace the affected lightbulbs to see if that resolves the issue. Before you buy new lightbulbs, take the time to learn about the lighting system to learn what type of bulbs you should buy.

Importance of Hiring a Professional Electrician for Complex Problems

Roughly 1 in 20 people will be injured trying to perform DIY repairs without the proper training or equipment. Therefore, it’s best to leave the work to the professionals. Most municipalities require permits before performing electrical work at home to ensure safe practices, which you can’t get without the proper training.

Mister Sparky Electrician NWA’s Specialized Services in Resolving Flickering Light Problems

Mister Sparky Electrician NWA offers services to fix lights that are flickering or dimming.

You can call at any time of day or night to get electrical services the next day. You can also request emergency services or same-day services.

Mister Sparky’s Commitment to Ensuring Electrical Safety

Mister Sparky maintains a strict code of ethics that includes detailed expectations regarding safety and reputation. Electrical repairs can be complicated. The first step in the process is to identify the source of the problem. As we’ve learned today, several problems can occur.

Master Sparky performs advanced diagnostics so that you can diagnose the problem and then create a plan to resolve the issue.

Flickering lights and buzzing sounds can be the result of numerous electrical problems. Sometimes, you can resolve the issue by tightening the light bulbs or trading them out for the appropriate lightbulbs. However, hiring a professional electrician to diagnose and repair your problem outside of that is important.

Contact Mister Sparky to schedule electrical services for your home.

Mister Sparky Electrician NWA, America’s On-Time Electrician in Bella Vista, Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville services the Northwest Arkansas area with a team of licensed electricians. In addition to flickering lights, some of the electrician services provided by the company include electrical outlet/switch repair, ceiling fan installation, lighting installation, electrical wiring repair, landscape lighting installation and home electrical inspections.