Have Flickering Lights?

Flickering Lights are a sign of electrical issues

A flickering light can and usually is a sign of much more than an old or malfunctioning lightbulb. If lights in your home flicker consistently, call an experienced electrician for help. Flickering lightbulbs can mean that an electrical emergency is imminent!

Flickering lights are annoying and are usually caused by one of the following:

• Problems with the bulb - not on tight enough or incompatible with your dimmers
• Loose light plug
• Faulty switches or dimmers
• Appliances or HVAC units pulling large amounts of electricity on startup, causing a voltage to drop

Flickering light bulbs raise a flag that there's something wrong with the electrical wiring in those areas and need immediate attention before they cause fires! If you leave these unchecked this can result in expensive repairs.

Call Premier Electric & Design Inc today.

Let’s look deeper at the possible causes of flickering lights and who to call

Unstable Electrical Voltage

You should have a voltage of 120 for standard lighting. When the voltage is unstable (high or low), you'll see your lights flickering. Whether it's bad wiring, loose connections, corroded connections, or faults in your electrical system this causes the voltage to fluctuate. Excess voltage can damage electrical equipment having the potential to cause a fire. Excess voltage, call an electrician to prevent costly damages. 

Faulty Light Switch

Light switch problems such as a broken toggle, a bad connection, or a corroded contactor can cause flickering lights. 

Loose wire connections

Electrical connections must be tight to prevent an uninterrupted flow of electricity. Loose wiring in your electrical fixtures such as circuit breakers, wire splices, receptacles, and wall switches can reduce current flow, thereby causing lights to flicker. Loose electrical connections can cause arcing, this is where electrical current jumps, and at high levels can cause an electrical fire. If this is what you're currently experiencing Call an experienced electrician to fix this immediately.

Bad Electric Panel

The function of an electrical panel is to distribute power to different electrical circuits. A faulty panel caused by tripped breakers, corrosion, outdated equipment, or overcrowding can interrupt the power supply to your lighting fixtures, leading to flickering. 

Bulbs are loose

If a bulb is not properly secured in its socket, it may flicker due to an inconsistent power supply. You can remedy this problem by tightening the loose bulb after switching the light off. Keep in mind that CFL and fluorescent bulbs flicker for a few seconds after being turned on, this can be remedied by installing LED bulbs. LED bulbs offer instant illumination and are more energy-efficient than other types of light sources.

Overloaded Circuit

An electrical overload can occur when you run several appliances at the same time or during peak demand in your neighborhood. Running several appliances such as a dishwasher, water heater, and dryer can reduce electricity flowing to bulbs resulting in flickering. Occasional light flickering caused by high electrical demand shouldn’t be a cause for alarm. But if the problem becomes persistent, you’ll need to call a qualified electrician in Long Island, NY to fix the problem.

Brownouts and Blackouts

In the summertime or when it's prime time and the electric demand is high it's very common to experience a brownout. This is a noticeable reduction in your power supply. During a brownout, power may drop below the normal level, and this could cause flickering lights.

Power Surges

Sometimes, flickering lights can be a sign of dangerous power surges in a home’s electrical systems. Surges cause fluctuations in power, which can damage electronics and start fires. If you suspect surges are causing your bulbs to flicker, you should contact an electrician for help immediately.

Get Help from Premier Electric & Design Inc.

Flickering lights can turn into an electrical emergency if left unaddressed. Don’t wait until there’s an electrical fire in your property to take action. If you’re experiencing flickering lights in your home or business, call Premier Electric & Design Inc. Our experienced electricians are ready to take care of all your electrical needs.