6 Reasons Why Your Lights Are Flickering At Home
Reclining on the sofa, your relaxing evening is suddenly interrupted by flickering lights. Your living room used to be a calming space, but lately, the light bulbs have been causing problems and you don’t know why.
There are several reasons why your lights might be flickering, and it’s important to get to the bottom of the problem and resolve it as quickly as possible. In most cases, it’s a minor issue that can easily be resolved yourself. However, in some cases, it could be a sign that something is wrong with your electrical system, which may pose a safety risk to you and your family.
Discover what the cause of your flickering lights might be and how you can fix the issue safely.
Why are my lights flickering?
The reasons your lights may be flickering range from minor fixes to more major issues. You’ll be able to resolve most of these issues yourself, but some might require you to call out an electrician.
Always consider your safety first and don’t attempt to handle electrical wiring yourself if you’re not sure what you’re doing.
1. Your light bulb is loose
One of the simplest reasons your light might be flickering is a loose light bulb. If the connection is not secure between the bulb and the socket, it can lead to intermittent contact, which causes the light to flicker on and off.
To find out if this is the issue, simply turn off the light switch and tighten the bulb. If the flickering stops when you turn the light back on, it probably means the issue is resolved.
2. Your light bulb needs replacing
In some cases, a flickering light can simply mean your light bulb is on its way out and needs to be replaced. This could be the case even if you only replaced your bulbs recently as new bulbs can sometimes be faulty.
Try replacing the bulb in your lighting fixture and see if that resolves the problem.
3. You’re using the wrong type of bulb
‘If you have dimmer switches fitted in your home, the first step to investigating flickering lights is to check that the light or its bulbs are dimmable’, says Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, lighting expert and co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds.
Some bulbs aren’t compatible with dimmable lights, so when you attempt to dim them it causes the light to flicker.
To resolve the issue and ensure your lights can be dimmed to your liking, make sure you’re using dimmable bulbs in all your dimmable lights. Check the packaging to find out whether a bulb is dimmable or not.
4. The switch or plug needs replacing
If your table or floor lamp is flickering and replacing the bulb hasn’t made any difference, the issue could be with the switch or plug.
To check the on-off switch, give it a wiggle and see if the light flickers – if it does, that probably means you’re dealing with a faulty switch.
To resolve this issue, you’ll need to buy a new switch or lamp socket and rewire it. If you’re not confident fiddling with electrical wiring, it’s always best to get an electrician or qualified person to help you.
If the issue isn’t with the switch, check the plug to make sure it’s not damaged and that there are no loose or frayed wires. If it is damaged, you’ll probably need to replace the plug and possibly the whole cord.
5. You’re overloading your circuit
When too many appliances or lighting fixtures are running simultaneously on the same circuit, this can cause dips in power that make the lights flicker. You’re most likely to encounter this issue if your home is older and the electrical system isn’t equipped to handle modern electrical demands, but it can also occur in modern homes that have more sophisticated electrical appliances.
If you think this might be the issue that’s causing your lights to flicker, there are a few things you can try:
- Move some of your plug-in appliances to a less-used circuit
- Avoid turning on too many appliances all at once
- Install new circuits for appliances that require lots of power
- Upgrade your electrical panel to increase the capacity of your electrical system
Some of these fixes will likely require an electrician, so be sure to contact one if you’re not sure what to do.
You should also consider that if the flickering only happens when you use one specific appliance, it could be a fault with the appliance itself. Again, if in doubt, contact an electrician.
6. Your circuit breaker is old
It could be that your lights are flickering because the circuit breaker is no longer up to standard, so check how old your circuit is and when it was last serviced.
If your circuit breaker is old, you should consider installing surge protectors. These will help to protect your circuits from voltage spikes, greatly reducing the chances of an electrical fire occurring.
My lights are still flickering – what should I do?
If you’ve tried all these solutions and your lights are still flickering, you should contact an electrician to investigate further. Flickering lights can signal a fault in your home’s electrical system, which could lead to electrical fires if not dealt with.
Electrical faults are one of the main causes of accidental home fires in the UK so should be fixed as quickly as possible.
Use Electrical Safety First to find a registered electrician in your area.
