What is Causing the Lights in My Home to Flicker?
It may happen almost every night, you will be working in the kitchen, or reading a book when the lights start to flicker. In Central Florida, we are used to lights flickering or “browning out,” but when that’s not the cause, and it happens frequently, there is a problem. There are several reasons that your lights continue to flicker, let’s take a closer look at what these reasons are and how they affect your lighting.
Your Wiring Can’t Handle the Power Usage.
The number one reason that lights flicker in a house is that the wiring cannot handle the load on it and is overwhelmed for a few seconds. It happens more frequently in older homes which are in abundance in the Lakeland and Plant City areas. If your home was built before 1980, there is a good chance the wiring can’t keep up with the 21st-century load on it. Call Dynamic R.I.C. Electric and we will inspect your home to see if the load is too much for the wiring. You should do this before an electrical fire starts from the old wiring and the demand on it.
Your Light Switch is Bad.
If you have something like a vanity light over a mirror and all the lights are connected to the same switch, their flickering is a strong indication that the switch controlling them is bad. Any series of lights that flicker and are controlled by the same switch indicates that the switch needs to be repaired. Again, call Dynamic R.I.C. Electric before it becomes a fire hazard.
Broken Down Electronics and Appliances.
Anything you have had for a while such as a blender, a vacuum, a large T.V., or other older household appliances or electronics that are going bad can cause surges in your wiring and electrical system as a whole. These faulty items need to be replaced to fix the problem.
What About L.E.D. Lights Flickering?
Flickering L.E.D. lightbulbs are usually incompatible with the switch in some way, most likely the switch is a dimmer and is the source of the problem. Either replace the switch or use standard light bulbs to solve the problem.
If you are in the Lakeland, Kissimmee, and Clermont areas, and you are experiencing a problem with flickering lights, let Dynamic R.I.C. Electric inspect them in your home or business. Call 863-333-0762 or fill out our online contact form, one of our friendly and knowledgeable staff members will be happy to discuss scheduling one of our licensed electricians to visit.