Have you noticed that the lights in your home flicker multiple times per month? This is something that needs to be investigated and can prevent larger issues from happening in the future.
Most lights flicker due to a faulty or old bulb, loose light plug, faulty light or fixture switch, or a shortage due to a large appliance pulling too much current on startup, which causes a voltage drop. Most of these issues are solved by swapping out the lightbulb or replacing a dimmer.
There are also more serious causes, such as sensory overload on the circuit, voltage fluctuations, loose wiring, outdated wiring, issues with the electric utility company, or a problem with the meter box or main service cable connection. If you are planning on moving into a new home, you should ask about electrical issues in the area as you are setting up your new utilities
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Common Causes
Check Your Lightbulbs
The first step that you should take is to examine the light bulbs that you are using throughout the house and make sure that they are all screwed in tightly and make sure that all plugs are secure in the wall outlet.
If you are using Fluorescent bulbs you may see flickering occurring as you turn them on, especially if it is in colder weather. This is normal and the flickering should go away once you allow it to warm up. If the flickering continues you will need to troubleshoot further.
If you have LED bulbs you will almost always run into issues with the dimming switch, which we talk about below.
Check Your Dimmers
If you are using dimmers you should also check the wattage on the lightbulbs that you are using and make sure that they are the correct ones that you should be using. For instance, LEDs are not great bulbs to use with dimmers and will regularly flicker when the dimmer is set to a low setting. They also do not work well with some fluorescent bulbs and non-dimmable CFL bulbs.
If you are going to be using the dimmers often, you should look into dimmable bulbs that are compatible with your switch and make sure you keep a few extras for when they burn out.
Electrical Shortage Because of Your Neighbors
One issue that comes up a lot when you live in a townhome, condo, or street that uses a lot of electricity is electrical shortages because of your neighbors. If your neighbor is using a lot of electricity their loads will impact your electrical supply.
You can always reach out to your neighbors and see if they are also having issues with their lights flickering. If this is the cases, there may be a street-wide problem that needs to be reported to the electrical company to be inspected and repairs.
More Serious Issues
If the common causes above do not solve your issue you may be facing a bigger problem. You may have a house-wide issue and you should contact a trusted certified electrician to do a full check of the house.
Check Your Circuit Breaker
If you have large appliances and HVAC units that pull large amounts of current when they are turned on you may see house-wide flickering. This usually means that your circuits are overloaded and you are putting your entire home’s electrical system at risk. This can be caused by inadequate wiring to the appliances or HVAC unit or a circuit breaker that is not up to date. Both of these need to be checked by a certified electrician.
In order to figure out which appliance/unit is causing these problems you can switch each one on using the circuit breaker and pay attention for a flicker or a buzzing sound. Both of these point to an issue and should be addressed. You may be able to deal with the lights flickering, but you want to get it fixed before the appliances get damaged.
Loose Wiring
If you have an old home or the electricians that initially wired your house made a mistake you may notice occasional flickering.
Loose wiring is one of the top causes for house fires and is something that needs to be corrected immediately. It is always smart to bring in a professional and pay a small amount up front instead of having to pay a lot in the future when something bad happens. The best case would be that the electrician gets to your house and tells you that you need to replace a few dimmers or update some wiring and takes care of it that day.
Solutions
Upgrading To Smart Bulbs To Eliminate Dimmers
If you have older dimmers in your house you should look into investing in smart bulbs. Smart bulbs allow you to control the dimming through an app on your phone and allow you to replace the old dimmers with a regular light switch. This will give you complete control over the lights and will stop you from having to get up every time you want to change the light’s brightness.
These smart bulbs can also be connected to Amazon Alexa, Google home, and other smart devices. Once you have these throughout your house you will have complete control over them through voice and an app, which is something that a lot of people love.
Use Fewer Appliances At The Same Time
This is a solution that may not work for the long-term, but until you are able to get an electrician to find the problem or upgrade your system, you can use less appliances to keep the system below its maximum load. Unplugging these appliances will also help you save money and it is a great habit to get into.
Cleaning
You can use a can of compressed air to spray the dust and debris that is getting in between the plug and the wall and also spray in the area that you will be screwing in the lightbulb. This can be done across your entire house and will help to make the bulbs perform at their fullest potential.
Hire a Professional
As stated above, a certified electrician deals with these problems on a daily basis and knows what to look for and is better equipped to diagnose and solve your issues. You can find a trusted electrician by asking friends and family, posting in local Facebook groups, or using Google to look up companies that have high ratings and legitimate reviews.