Did the lights flicker? Perhaps a poltergeist has settled in your house. Maybe the deceased have come back from the grave to haunt you.
Jokes aside, flickering lights are a nuisance and might endanger your life if left unchecked. If this has happened to you, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll tell you all you need to know about this issue.
Article summary
The most common reason for a flickering light is a loose light bulb or faulty wiring. However, other reasons include the following:
- Problems with the main connection
- Lighting strikes
- A faulty transformer
Table of Contents
Reasons Your Lights Are Flickering at home
Before you tackle any problem, you might first acquaint yourself with the potential causes. Whether the flickering is just a nuisance or a serious problem depends entirely on what caused it in the first place.
Loose Light Bulb
If your light bulb flickers when turned on, it might be loose. Since it is not connected properly, the current which passes through is inconsistent. And so is the light it emits. It is a rather innocuous issue that you needn’t worry about much.
It often happens with ceiling lights since gravity pulls the bulbs down. Moreover, you have to reach up to screw the bulb in properly.
Simply tightening the bulb should do the trick in this case.
Bulb Type
Different bulbs behave differently. For instance, fluorescent ones are prone to flickering as they warm up. More bulb types and their features are presented in the table below.
| Bulb Type | Features |
| Incandescent | Produces a warm, yellow light |
| Halogen | Bright and long-lasting with high energy consumption |
| Compact Fluorescent | Energy-efficient but contains mercury |
| LED | Very energy-efficient, available in a range of colors |
| Smart | Controllable via phone or voice commands |
They might even flicker when the temperature is too cold. If this is the case, you may relax as it isn’t a serious problem. The only thing you can do here is to stop using this type.
Incompatible dimmer switch
Designed to alter the brightness, dimmer switches are very particular about their bulbs. Typical dimmer switches are made for incandescent and halogen bulbs.
Thus, this problem might arise if you use the incorrect switch with a fluorescent bulb. LED bulbs also require their specific dimmer switches.
Unsecure Plug Connection
A loose or damaged plug might also lead to flickering. Here are the steps you can take to fix it:
- Turn off the power to the outlet at the circuit breaker or fuse box.
- Unplug the cord from the outlet to avoid any electric shock.
- Check for damage or wear and tear. If the plug is damaged, it needs replacement.
- Check the screws on the plug and make sure they are tightened securely.
Circuit Overload
When multiple lights flicker whenever you turn on a demanding appliance, it might be drawing all the power from the circuit.
The overloaded circuit provides less power to other components, such as your ceiling light.
If the flickering is haphazard and brief, it is little more than a nuisance. However, intermittent flickering that refuses to stop is a serious issue. You must have it fixed immediately.
One way to know for sure that a circuit is faulty is to check which lights are flickering. Are all of them in the bathroom?
Are they all outdoor lights? A single circuit usually connects lights found in the same room, so this is a telltale sign that something is amiss with it.
Unstable voltage
The standard voltage in most buildings is 120 V. Despite this, oscillation within the interval of 115 – 125 V is common, so you needn’t worry about it. However, professional assistance might be required if it oscillates outside this scale.
Symptoms accompanying rampaging voltage can be quite bothersome. For one, your light bulb is not last as long as it should. Other signs of unstable voltage are shown in the following table.
| Signs | How they manifest |
| Appliances malfunctioning | They are turning on or off unexpectedly |
| Buzzing sounds | These sounds are coming from your electrical appliances |
| Overheating electronics | Increased temperature and burning smells |
Electronics will also go haywire. Not only will they not function as they should, but they might also shut down entirely. Flickering might also occur.
If turning on an appliance is followed by intermittent flickering, it might also point to wayward voltage. Unlike circuit overload, the flickering persists even after you turn off the appliance.
Faulty transformer
The root of the problem may also lie outside your abode. Transformers are devices that alter the amperage/voltage ratio to be usable by your electronics. Faulty transformers provide a fluctuating power supply which manifests as flickering.
An issue of this scale tends to affect more than just one house and might be exacerbated if your neighbors use high-wattage appliances. Sadly, you will need to call your electric company to have it resolved.
Faulty wiring
Loose wiring is easily the most dangerous reason behind flickering lights. If the flickering deteriorates, all the lights in your house might start to flicker.
But what causes the wiring to go bad? It might simply be the passage of time. Over the years, the metal might start to corrode and lose its ability to conduct electrical current.
Or perhaps the wiring is outmoded and incompatible with modern appliances. Improper installation might also be the culprit.
What caused the wiring to go bad is not as important as the threat it poses. In addition to the wires overheating, it might also lead to arcing.
What meaning lurks behind this word? When a wire is split in two, the electrical current must jump the gap between them to go on. Imagine a lightning bolt striking from one end to another.
That’s about what it looks like. And just like a lightning bolt, this discharge generates an alarming amount of heat. As a matter of fact, about 70% of home fires result from loose wiring.
Again, you will need an electrician to have the wires fixed.
Problems with the main connection
A faulty main connection usually goes hand in hand with your lights flickering across the whole house.
The service cable might also be damaged. If you suspect this is the case, have an electrician inspect the main meter box connection.
Lightning strikes
Believe it or not, inclement weather can also cause flickering. Since lightning is a form of static electricity, it might temporarily affect the current flow when it strikes a power line. In addition to causing flickering, it might sometimes burn your wires to cinders.
Of course, you do not command the weather. But you can still protect yourself against lightning. Various devices protect against such surges, and installing them might be worthwhile.
Another solution is using lightning rods. These tall metal rods attract lightning and carry it deep into the ground, where it dissipates. Remember, a lightning strike may cause damage to all of your appliances. Check the following table for more information.
| Appliance | Effects of Lightning Strikes |
| Computers | Can cause damage to internal components |
| Refrigerators | May trip the circuit breaker or damage the control board |
| Washing Machines | Can damage its electronic controls and motor |
| Microwaves | Can damage the electronic control board and cause a fire hazard |
Flickering on one circuit
When lights linked by one circuit flicker, it is a sign that you are overloading it. Did only your bathroom lights suddenly decide that they are Christmas decorations? Or was it those found in your kitchen?
Then you are either using too many appliances at once, or you use those which demand great amounts of power. Refrigerators, electric space heaters, and A/Cs are just some examples of high-wattage gadgets.
Beware of using extension cords, as they further divide the current and cause flickering.
To fix this issue, assign these power-demanding appliances to circuits that can handle them. Also, cut down on extension cords.
