As annoying as flickering lights can be, it is often a telling sign that there is a bigger problem that needs to be fixed. A common diagnosis is switching to LED energy saving light bulbs and them not being fitted to your standard dimmers.
Other reasons that might relate to flickering lights are:
- Bulb related issues
- Circuit overloads
- The type of bulb you are using
- Faulty lights
- Wire connections that are loose
One of the biggest mistakes made is often related to swapping out old light bulbs for the latest LEDs and not updating their dimmers. There is often an easy solution to this problem which is buying a high quality “dimmable’’ bulb that is LED or substituting your older dimmer for a new one, which will improve the performance of your bulbs.
Other issues to consider if your lights are flickering
Some common reasons to consider next time you experience flickering lightbulbs as listed above and the solution to the problems are:
Loose wiring:
Often when flickering is continuous it is to do with your electrical system and may be related to lose wires which is the main cause of house fires and can be extremely dangerous. If loose wiring is suspected an electrician should be contacted immediately.
Circuit overloading:
If you tend to find that your lights flicker when other electronic devices are operating such as your washing machine or dish washer this may be due to a circuit overload. This problem will occur due to your device having a larger electrical current than your circuit. The simple fix for this issue is moving devices to a circuit that can hold a greater electrical capacity.
The type of bulb:
Fluorescent lights will tend to flicker more than other bulb specially as they age. Although minor flickering can be bearable, it may pay off to switch to LED compatible switches.