Christmas lights and shop signs should be the only signs that flicker – anything else is a potential problem in the making!
A flickering light can be annoying when you’re in the middle of reading your favourite book, doing your chores, or working on a home project.
In other cases, it could also be a major problem that could pose a danger to your home.
Most of the time, seemingly small lighting problems such as flickering lights indicate a deeper electrical problem – that’s why it’s best to contact a residential electrician or commercial electrical contractors when the lights start flickering – especially if it’s accompanied by a burning smell.
Are flickering lights dangerous?
With the way we’ve been talking about it, it’s pretty reasonable to assume that flickering lights are dangerous.
Thankfully, flickering lights on their own tend to be harmless – the issue is that they’re often a symptom of a deeper problem.
It may seem harmless at first, but flickering lights indicate a more serious issue when it comes to your electrical system – one that could potentially cause:
- Power surges
- Abnormal power fluctuations
- Damage to electronics or appliances
- Electrical fires (more on that later)
That’s why it’s always better to be safe, and to call a residential electrician in Bayside for electric service and repairs when the lights start flickering.
Can flickering the lights start a fire?
We’re going to be direct: no, a flickering light won’t cause a fire – however, it’s a common symptom of problems that can.
Oftentimes, lights flicker as a result of an electrical wiring problem. One of the most common culprits our residential electricians and electrical contractors see on the job are loose connections.
Electrical connections need to be firm and tight to minimise electrical resistance. Higher electrical resistance means heat, simple as that – and as we all know, when it gets too hot, this can often ignite the surrounding area.
Should I be worried about flickering lights?
Worrying is a natural reaction when you see your lights flicker, especially if you’re unsure what’s causing it in the first place.
If your lights keep on flickering, it’s best to consult with a residential electrician in Bayside instead of just guessing what might be happening.
It could be harmless – alternatively, it could be a problem, like the ones mentioned above.
The only way to be sure is to get in touch with a pro to see what the issue is.
Why are my new LED lights flickering?
Good news: the problem (probably) isn’t with your newly installed lights, so don’t start panicking about whether or not you’ve got faulty lights.
Instead, it’s probably a wiring issue like we mentioned above. In other cases, it could be poor workmanship as a result of choosing a dodgy electrician to carry out your LED lighting installation.
Luckily, both can be fixed without having to replace every bulb on the property!
What are flickering lights a sign of?
Faulty light switch
A poor connection between your lights themselves and your lightswitch can often result in your lights constantly flickering on and off.
This isn’t necessarily dangerous – in many cases, it’s the result of incompatibility between the lights and switches. Many properties upgrade their lights to LED lighting, while leaving in old switches designed for incandescent lights.
Loose electrical connections
Loose connections in your home wiring system are one of the main causes of flickering lights, with loose terminals and connections in your circuit breakers contribute to the problem.
Loose wiring can cause the electrical current to be unstable, resulting in flickering instead of consistent brightness. Not only that, but there’s also the aforementioned fire risk as well!
Voltage fluctuations
When an appliance or electrical equipment does not match the required amperage for an outlet or electrical switch, you might experience flickering as a result of sudden and consistent voltage fluctuations.
Sometimes, it’s the wiring. In other cases, it’s an issue with your entire circuit. The only way to know is to get in touch with a commercial electrician in Mordialloc.
Loose bulb
In some cases, the problem has nothing to do with the wiring or installation – sometimes the bulb itself just needs to be tightened.
When this happens, just be sure to turn it off first and wait until it cools down before you get to work.
What is the difference when LED lights are flickering?
LED bulbs are usually known to be a non-flickering light and don’t usually have glowing filaments. After using LED lights, you may see a flickering strobe light left.
However, if you’re experiencing flickering lights frequently, then this may be a power issue, that’s why you need to contact your residential electrician in Bayside to check what’s wrong.
Can flickering lights be caused by a bad breaker?
Yes!
In many cases, the wiring and connectors to your breaker box or main electrical panel can often cause flickering or blinking.
If you happen to observe a buzzing sound in your circuit breaker, then you will need to switch it off and have a reliable commercial electrician in Highett inspect it to check what’s wrong.
How do I fix flickering lights?
Call Powermaster Electrical now!
Sometimes, the issue is as simple as needing to tighten your bulbs.
In others however, it’s a sign of a more major problem, and one that requires the help of an electrical professional to inspect and fix for you.
Our experienced, skilled and qualified residential electricians and electrical contractors make sure that everything is working properly as it should.
Our team of sparkies can diagnose – and more importantly, fix – any flickering issues you might be having with your lighting.
It isn’t just electrical repairs, however – we offer a wide range of residential and commercial electric services including:
Get in touch with the Masters today: give us a call on 1300 410 141, or click here to lodge an online enquiry.