The Hidden Electrical Issues Behind Your Flickering Kitchen Light
The flickering light in your kitchen is driving you nuts.
It makes it hard to cook, concentrate, or do anything.
A flickering light is more than just an annoyance; it’s a sign of an underlying electrical issue in your home.
While some flickering problems are resolved with simple DIY solutions, it's essential to recognize when it's time to call a local electrician for professional assistance.
What You Need to Know
We’ll cover seven common causes of flickering lights, from loose bulbs to voltage fluctuations, and offer DIY solutions.
For continuous or severe flickering, issues in multiple locations, burning smells, frequent circuit breaker trips, or older homes with aging wiring, we recommend calling a local electrician for professional help.
Local electricians have the expertise, timely response, and knowledge of local regulations to address your electrical problems effectively.
7 Common Causes
Before delving into the solutions, it's essential to understand the various factors that cause flickering lights in your home. Here are some of the most common culprits:
1. Loose Bulbs or Poor Connections
Flickering can be as simple as a loose bulb in its socket or a poor connection in the lighting fixture.
2. Voltage Fluctuations
Fluctuations in your local electrical grid's voltage lead to flickering lights.
This is a problem for older homes or homes in areas with unstable power supplies.
Voltage stabilizers, whole-home surge protectors, and power strip surge protectors help mitigate this issue.
3. Overloaded Circuits
When circuits are overloaded with too many devices and appliances drawing power simultaneously, it causes lights to flicker.
The professional solution is to add more outlets within your home.
4. Faulty Light Switches
Defective or worn-out light switches can also be a source of flickering lights. While you can’t see this on the surface, the wires behind your light switches wear out over time.
5. Bulb Compatibility
Some LED or CFL bulbs flicker if they are not compatible with the dimmer switches you have.
6. Aging Wiring and Electrical Panels
Homes with older wiring and electrical panels experience flickering lights due to their outdated infrastructure.
7. Loose Electrical Connections
Loose electrical connections in your home's wiring can lead to flickering lights, and anyone can be affected by them as they naturally happen over time as wires expand and contract with the heat from the electrical current.
Proceed with Caution: DIY Solutions
NOTE: When DIYing it, always turn off electricity from the source to minimize the risk of electrocution. If you don’t feel comfortable, staying safe and calling a professional is always better.
If you want to know what you’re getting into before you dive in, you can always request a home electrical inspection from your local electrician.
Otherwise, try these DIY solutions:
Inspect and Replace Light Switches: Inspect light switches for signs of wear or damage. If you find any, consider replacing them with new switches.
Replace Faulty Bulbs: If a bulb is flickering and you've ruled out loose connections, try replacing it with a new one.
Relocate Devices to Different Circuits: If overloading circuits is the issue, redistribute your devices to different circuits to balance the electrical load.
Call a Professional When…
While DIY solutions resolve some flickering light issues, there are instances where calling a local electrician is the safest and most effective course of action:
Continuous or Severe Flickering
If your lights flicker continuously or severely, it's a sign of a deeper electrical problem that requires professional attention.
This could indicate loose connections, damaged wiring, or other issues within your electrical system.
Flickering in Multiple Locations
If flickering occurs in multiple areas of your home, it suggests a widespread issue that needs to be assessed by an electrician.
This is related to your home's main electrical panel or voltage supply.
Burning Smells or Visible Damage
If you detect unusual odors or see visible damage in your electrical system, such as scorch marks on outlets or switches, this is a serious safety concern.
Immediately turn off the power and contact an electrician.
Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips
If your circuit breakers frequently trip when the lights flicker, it indicates an overloaded electrical system or a short circuit.
An electrician will diagnose and address these issues.
Older Homes with Aging Wiring
For older homes with outdated electrical systems and wiring, flickering lights may be a sign of more significant issues.
It's essential to have your electrical system evaluated by an electrician to ensure it meets modern safety standards.
Trust Local Expertise
When addressing electrical issues, including flickering lights, relying on a local electrician is crucial for several reasons:
Local Knowledge: Local electricians are familiar with the specific electrical infrastructure and regulations in your area. For example, they will know if your house is being impacted by where it sits on the electrical grid and what electrical problems are likely to pop up in your house based on when it was built.
Timely Response: Local electricians provide faster response times, addressing urgent issues more quickly to minimize disruptions to your daily life.
Compliance with Local Codes: Local electricians are well-versed in local building codes and safety standards, ensuring that all work performed in your home is compliant with local regulations.
Emergency Services: In the event of electrical emergencies, such as a sudden loss of power or severe flickering, local electricians provide prompt assistance.
New London Electric is Your Local Electrician
Don’t let flickering lights disrupt your peace—call a local electrician to diagnose and address the underlying problems.
Call New London Electric.
Our expertise on electrical systems and the issues that cause flickering lights allow us to ensure the safety and functionality of your electrical system.
Contact us today!