Having flickering light bulbs in your house is not fun if it is not Halloween decorations or Christmas tree lights. It is also annoying and causes some concerns. The good news is you are likely to be able to fix it by yourself. There are a few ways to get your light game back on track. Start with the simplest solution first then work your way up to the more complex one, but don’t forget to keep in mind that there are chances that the cause could be serious electrical issues as well.
Quick solution
Sometimes the cause of flickering lights could be something as simple as loose bulbs. Sometimes a light bulb can slowly unscrew itself over time because of the vibration, especially from the floor above. When the socket and the stem of the bulb are not properly connected, it results in flickering lights. To fix this, first, make sure that you switch off the power (or unplug it if it is a lamp) to prevent yourself from an electric shock. Unscrew the light bulb counter-clockwise then twist it back tightly into the socket. Make sure that you screw it incorrectly. Turn the light back on to see if it works. If not, proceed to the next instructions below.
On the other hand, the light bulb can be in good condition, but the power outlet is not. Its internal metal contact blades might be worn. You cannot repair this. Instead, we suggest you replace it.
Check your light bulbs
Fluorescent bulbs: it is quite common for fluorescent bulbs to flicker. Check to see if the bulb is burning out in the socket. If so, just replace the new ones.
LED bulbs: sometimes the root of the problem is not the bulb itself. Old dimmer switches tend to be the culprits for causing flickering LED lights. They are designed to use with higher voltage bulbs like incandescent, not to handle low electrical loads like LEDs. Check the specifications of your current dimmers to see what works well with them before replacing the new bulbs. Another solution is to change a switch. There are dimmer switches that are competent with LED lights. Install this one if you plan to continue using LED bulbs.
Check the large appliances in your place
If the bulbs start to flicker every time you turn on the air conditioner, ceiling fan, dishwasher, washing machine, television, or other appliances that use high voltage, it is a sign that the circuit is overloaded. This pattern occurs when the lights have to share to load of bigger devices. The solution of this problem is to create a new circuit. You can start by buying a voltmeter to measure your place’s output, but if this already sounds too complicated, you can always call a professional electrician for help.
Look at your neighbors
A transformer is shared among homes in the neighborhood. When your neighbors’ houses consume a lot of power, it could cause your lights to flicker. Contact a trained electrician to help you fix this problem.
Worn out wiring or more serious problems
If you have already tried all of the troubleshoots mentioned above but still could not keep the bulbs from flickering, this might be a sign of old wiring, switch failure, broken breaker, or all these problems altogether. Especially, when the flickering light continues and gets worse over time, it is possible that you are at risk. These issues could lead to house fires. Calling a professional electrician immediately to locate the problem is strongly recommended. Varg has a team of qualified electricians. Don’t hesitate to get free estimates from us!
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