Here are the ways for you to stop light flickering at your house.
Replacing a bad bulb
Most of you have likely changed a bulb at least once in your life. For our DIY novices, we offer this simple guide to explain the art of bulb-changing.
- Turn the incriminated light bulb off and wait for it to cool down. This step is necessary, as changing an active bulb might lead to shock.
- If it is ceiling lights you have to replace, make sure you grab a ladder. Standing on the tips of your toes might seem tempting, but you might be unable to screw it in properly. Remember, a loose bulb will flicker.
- Unscrew the old bulb.
- Having chosen a compatible new bulb, place it in and screw it tightly.
- Turn on the switch to see if you were successful in the installation.
Voltage test
- You will require a voltmeter or multimeter for this task. If you are using a multimeter, set it to measure voltage. Other information is not relevant.
- The test itself has to be performed with the power on. We advise against touching the metallic components with bare hands – equip rubber gloves for better protection.
- Place each probe into one of the socket slots and wait for it to stabilize. Hold the voltmeter in one hand to avoid turning your body into a circuit while you wait.
- Read the voltage. If it is outside, it is more than 120 V. There is a problem with the installation. On the other hand, if you read no voltage at all, the socket is disconnected from the circuit.
Fixing a bad switch
- Pull the light switch up and down and see if the lights flicker as you do so. If yes, the switch might be loose. In case you use a dimmer, move it up and down slowly. The change in brightness must be smooth. Otherwise, it isn’t installed properly.
- Cut off the power supply to the circuit to which the lights are connected. You can achieve this at the circuit breaker. Do not skip this step, as it is extremely important. Tampering with an active circuit might lead to electrocution. Always try to turn on the light switches to double-check.
- Remove the wall plate and the switch itself using a screwdriver. Wear rubber gloves or a screwdriver with a rubber handle as an extra precaution. Store the screws safely since you will need them to place the switch back in.
- Take out the switch. Be gentle, or you might tear the wires. Tighten the screws which connect the wires to the switch. Once the screws hold firmly, release the pressure to avoid damaging the switch.
- Reassemble the switch and restore the power supply to this circuit.
- Check if the problem’s gone. If not, it might be rooted elsewhere.
Fixing a bad circuit breaker
- If multiple lights in your house flicker, your breaker box might be the cause. The screws inside might come undone eventually, meaning you receive an inconsistent power supply.
- Before you do anything, you have to switch off the entire main breaker. Working on an active breaker might lead to injury. However, this will disable the electricity in your house. Make sure you have a flashlight ready so you can inspect it properly.
- Unscrew the breaker panel to expose the internal wires. Use a screwdriver with a rubber handle to protect yourself.
- Inside, you will find numerous screws that connect the breakers to wires. If some have become loose, tighten them. Do not use too much force if they are tight enough, or you might damage them.
- Put the breaker panel back on.
- Restore the power and turn on the light to see if it fixed the flickering.
Should neither one of these methods remedy the issue, it is time to call a professional electrician. Since the issue likely lies in the wiring itself, you will be unable to deal with it alone. Schedule the appointment as soon as possible to prevent possible damage.
Why you can trust us?
At least once we all have faced the issue of flickering lights at our house. We have faced it too. So, based on our personal experiences as well as the knowledge from the certified electricians we have short-listed the possible causes as to why your Lights are flickering at home and a solution to that as well. Trust us on this because we really wanna light up your world!
Factors to consider
Wiring
Wires are the medium through which electricity is transferred to different devices. It is supposed to be uptight for lossless transmission. Always check for any loose ends in the wiring if you experience flickering lights at home.
Voltage
Voltage plays a major role if your lights have started to flicker at home. The most common voltage that runs in our homes is 120V. However, if it’s between 115V-125V, it will still work out. But for any fluctuations out of that, you will have to call the electrician.
Transformer
Transformer is a device that alters the voltage so that it becomes usable by electronic devices. A faulty transformer will lead to fluctuating electricity. That in turn will cause the lights to flicker. So if you have checked everything and are not sure of the causes, call an electrician and get the nearest transformer checked.
Main connection
The main connection is the spot from where the service cable and the electrical connections of an entire house meet. Connections of your entire house can be tip-top but this mating place of service cable and house connections can lead to flickering in the lights.
How much does it cost to fix?
If the cause is not very major like some loose cable or faulty light itself then it won’t put much of a big dent in your pocket. It will cost you around $30-$50. But if there is a major issue with electricity distribution in your house then it might cross 1000 bucks. But get the basics checked first and then go for bigger causes.
FAQ
Can it cause a fire?
It depends on how prevalent the issue is. One malfunctioning light bulb will be little more than a thorn in your side. But if all lights in the house flicker, it might be an omen of an impending fire. We urge you to inspect your electrical system immediately if this is what happened to you. Faulty wiring is the main culprit behind home fire accidents.
When should I be worried?
To find the answer to your question, you must first find the cause behind the flickering itself. You have a reason to worry if the lights are acting up across whole rooms or even the whole house.
On the other hand, a lone light bulb that flickers is unlikely to cause you any harm.
Conclusion
To sum up, flickering lights are a nuisance at best and a health hazard at worst. To determine the severity of this issue, you must first find the cause.
When just one light bulb flickers when turned on, it cannot cause much harm. Tightening it usually fixes the issue.
But your circuit might be overloaded if multiple lights flicker, such as all the lights outdoors. Reducing the strain it takes is the best way of dealing with the overload.
If all lights in the house start flickering, it points to a larger issue. Either your main breaker or the wiring itself is faulty. These issues increase the risk of fire and should be addressed without delay.
Some of these problems can be solved on your own, but the most severe ones require professional assistance.
