There are numerous causes for your lights to flicker, and it’s not unusual for them to do so occasionally. A change in the overall voltage of a home might occasionally cause this. Sometimes a more serious issue is in play.
Why Do My Lights Keep Flickering or Blinking?
Flickering lights can be caused by two things: insufficient electricity and low-quality, insufficient, or mixed bulbs.
Bulb mixtures or shortages of varying grade are simple to manage. Once you replace the bulbs with ones of the right size, the flickering should stop. Consider switching out all of the bulbs in the circuit at once using the same brand.
Flickering lights are most usually the result of insufficient power. There are various reasons why there is not enough power. The following are the main causes of low power:
- Bad electronics
- Incompatible or faulty light switches
- Loose circuit connections and old wiring
- Poor power distribution
- Tankless water heater or HVAC setups
Bad Electronics
Sometimes a faulty power cable or phone charger is the root of your problem with insufficient power. To see if anything affects the flicker, try disconnecting a few things at once. Once you’ve located the offender, take it out and safely discard it.
Incompatible or Faulty Light Switches
The most frequent flickering lights are LED lights connected to circuits with a dimmer control that is not suitable. Buy dimmable LED bulbs whenever possible. The switch that manages the LEDs can also be changed.
Loose Circuit Connections and Old Wiring
Flickering lights in older homes may indicate that the wiring is ageing and beginning to fail. Replace the wiring if that’s the situation. Eventually, this problem might result in loose circuit connections, which are extremely risky and might cause an electrical fire.
Poor Power Distribution
Power consumption for large appliances is high. If the circuit contains large appliances, the flickering may be caused by the voltage being diverted from other devices, such as lights, to power the appliance.
Tankless Water Heater or HVAC Units
close-up-of-a-tankless-water-heater-in-a-bathroom
These heaters and appliances use a lot of energy. The voltage transmitted to other parts of your home may be impacted by this excessive power consumption, which results in flickering. When your air conditioner starts, it’s usual for your lights to drop by 3 to 5 percent.
Other Reasons Why Your Lights Are Flickering
There are a couple of more reasons your lights can be flickering in addition to the ones mentioned above. These consist of:
- a faulty circuit
- Voltages that fluctuate constantly
- electrical utility service issue
- issues with the metre box or cable connection
Finding The Problem
Even though you should hire a qualified electrician to address the problem, you might be able to identify it on your own. Watch what causes the lights to flicker first. This can involve turning on a certain device, detecting a buzzing sound emanating from the breaker box, or seeing that the light flickers no matter what the weather is like inside your house.
Call the skilled electricians at U.S. Electric right away if you’re still stumped about the issue.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Flickering Lights
Flickering lights in your home should not be ignored for a variety of reasons, from aesthetic concerns to potential safety risks. Although they are ugly, they can also interfere with your regular activities at home and indicate a deeper problem.
Even though it can be difficult to determine why they are flickering, doing so is vital. Unchecked, it can result in more serious problems. Additionally, it makes electric shock, short circuits, and even an electrical fire more likely.
Read more: Can You Shower During a Power Outage? Here’s the Answer