Are your lights constantly flickering? Is it starting to annoy or worry you? Here are some reasons as to why they may be flickering and whether you should worry or not.
Loose Bulb
The problem may lie in the tightness of the bulb to the socket. If the bulb is not screwed in correctly and at its maximum tightness, the bulb will lose connection with the socket. This can happen overtime, so be sure to check your bulbs every so often. When checking, be sure to turn off the light, and wear heavy duty gloves so as not to burn yourself.
Circuit Overload
If your lights begin to flicker when you turn on any major appliance, like your washer or dryer, then you may be having voltage fluctuation. This means that these machines are pulling more electrical current from the circuit than it can manage.
If the flickering only occurs right when you start up the machine, this may not be of your concern. Bigger machines take up more voltage, so even in a well-designed electrical system, the flickering may occur – but only slightly. It shouldn’t be enough for you to notice.
If the lights continue to flicker while the machine is operating, then you may have a bigger problem. This means that there is a problem with your machine or a circuit overload, both of which call for an electrical repair.
Faulty Switch
Your lights may be flickering due to a faulty light switch, where the bulb is not connecting properly to the switch itself. Try flicking it on and off a few times to see if it was just out of place and needed a wiggle. If this doesn’t do the trick and you constantly need to switch it on and off, then you probably need to replace the switch entirely.
Loose Wiring
Loose wiring is not only the cause of flickering lights but of house fires, as well. To begin fixing this yourself, start by shutting off the light at your circuit breaker before removing the fixture. Here is where you can tell if the wiring is loose or flimsy, which is when you should call an electrician.
In order to keep your home free from flickering lights or even worse, call Arnold Electric today to have your lights inspected.
