What Causes Flickering Lights?

Several factors can cause flickering lights in your home. Sometimes it’s something as small as a bulb screwed in crookedly, which is an easy fix. Other times it’s a circuit connection that became loose, which poses a fire risk. While the tips below can help you identify the problem, we encourage you to call a professional electrician to get expert advice.

Common Causes of Flickering Lights

When you turn lights or appliances on and off, it causes voltage oscillations in your home’s electrical system. To a certain extent, flickering lights are perfectly normal because they’re a result of these voltage changes. There are a few other common causes of flickering lights, though.

Lights may also flicker when you have a loose light bulb or plug. In some instances, flickering occurs because your light dimmers are incompatible with the light bulbs you are using. Intense thunderstorms in your area are a common cause of flickering lights, too.

Overall, the longer your lights flicker, the more serious the issue.

When Flickering Lights Can Be Dangerous

If you notice buzzing noises and burning smells coming from light fixtures and appliances while your lights flicker, you could have serious electrical problems. The culprit might be a loose circuit connection, which could overheat and start a fire.

Plugging appliances like washing machines, air conditioners, and microwaves into extension cords or power strips is also a bad practice because it can overload circuits—and, consequently, cause flickering lights. Make sure you get your HVAC system inspected before winter, especially if you have old equipment. HVAC units can draw a large current from the circuit, so it’s essential that they function properly during the winter season.      

If you’re experiencing continuing problems with flickering lights at home, call an expert to investigate it for you. At JDP Electric, we have an experienced and knowledgeable team at your service. Contact us through our website or give us a call at (701) 232-1991.

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