Why Are My Lights Flickering?

Flickering lights is a common problem that homeowners and businesses experience from time to time. Apart from being a nuisance, flickering light bulbs point to a much more serious electrical problem that should be addressed as soon as possible. If left unaddressed, this problem can result in an electrical fire which could damage your home and cost you thousands of dollars in repairs. 
Let’s look at the possible causes of flickering lights and who to call when you experience this problem in your home or business. 
 

• Loose Connections  -- Electrical connections should be tight enough to ensure an uninterrupted flow of electricity.  Loose wiring in electrical fixtures such as circuit breakers, wire splices, receptacles, and wall switches may reduce current flow, thereby causing lights to flicker. Loose electrical connections can cause a phenomenon known as arcing, whereby electrical current jumps across gaps. If arcing exceeds a certain limit, it could cause an electrical fire. It’s always a good idea to call an experienced electrician to troubleshoot and fix the problem.
• Fluctuating Electrical Voltage -- The common voltage for standard lighting fixtures is around 120 volts. If the voltage is too high or too low, it could cause flickering lights. Voltage fluctuations can occur due to bad wiring, corroded connections, loose connections, or faults in your electrical system. Excess voltage can damage your electrical equipment and have the potential to cause a fire. Whenever you experience excess voltage, call an electrician to prevent costly damages. 
• Faulty 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 A faulty panel caused by tripped breakers, corrosion, outdated equipment, or overcrowding can interrupt the power supply to your lighting fixtures, leading to flickering.   
• Loose Bulb -- 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. 
• 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 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.
• Faulty Light Switch -- Light switch problems such as broken toggle, a bad connection, or corroded contactor can cause flickering lights. 
• Brownout In Your Neighborhood  -- A brownout, also known as a dip, is a reduction of power supply due to high demand. During a brownout, power may drop below the normal level, and this could cause flickering lights.

Get Help From Homeops Electric

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 HomeOps Electric. Our experienced electricians are ready to take care of all your electrical needs.