How to Handle a Flickering Light

21 April 2017
 Categories: Construction & Contractors, Blog


When you have a flickering light in your home, it can often be construed as nothing more than an annoyance. However, when you have little issues with the lighting in your home, it is often the result of an electrical issue that needs to be addressed. Here are some things you should do if you have a flickering light in your home.

Check for a Loose Bulb

One of the first things you should do when you have a flickering light is check the light bulb and fixture to see if anything is loose. This might seem like an obvious thing to do, but many people don't consider the fact that the lights could be flickering because of something very basic. Of course, if all the lights in your house are having this problem, it is likely not going to be a bulb that is loose. However, when it is just one light constantly giving you trouble, it is time to investigate and see if there is something you can tighten to fix the problem.

Replace the Light

If the flickering light is from a lamp that can be moved, try unplugging it and moving another lamp to that location. Plug it into the same outlet and test it out. If there is no more flickering, you know it was simply due to the previous lamp and need to replace it. On the other hand, if the new lamp still flickers, then you probably have an electrical issue with that outlet.

Look for Other Electrical Issues

The next thing you can do is check other electrical components in your home to see if you notice flickering lights or other issues. This allows you to see if you might have old or faulty wiring in your home that needs to be replaced. Try turning on other lights to see if the they flicker. If you notice weird things like lights that are dimmer than they usually are, sparks or outlets that are warm to the touch, these are all common signs of a wiring issue.

Contact an Electrician

When it isn't something simple, it is time to call an electrician. When dealing with the wiring in your home, you should not turn it into a DIY project. Electrical work, especially re-wiring, can be dangerous and is not worth attempting on your own. An electrician will let you know what the problem is and be able to fix it promptly.


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