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What should I do if my light fixtures are flickering?

At some point, most home and business owners will experience lights flickering. In fact, it's fairly common. Most of the time you think nothing about it and the problem goes without being investigated and quickly dismissed. Flickering lights is a complex problem and there are numerous causes from minor causes to severe and dangerous problems with electrical installations.

Flickering lights is when there is a variation in perceived brightness or illumination from one or several of your light sources. They appear in a variety of ways from a subtle change to pulsing fluctuations that give a dramatic effect. We all have different sensitivity and one person may not notice the lights are flickering, while it's obvious to the next. 

Voltage Issues

Voltage is the electrical force, pushing electrical current along the system, against resistances in the way. Electrical resistance is introduced in a circuit in small amounts. When there is too much resistance, the voltage can take a serious drop, that means that the operating voltage in equipment may not be reached. If you have too little current flowing through the circuit, your light bulbs will not operate as expected, causing flickering.

Light Bulb Issues

As with any product, light bulbs come with cheap and expensive options. Cheaper options offer produce poor performance, as they are made using the cheapest materials on the market with poor quality control. Light bulbs also wear out over time, even the modern LED bulbs we use can fail after some time. When they start to fail, they may start flickering, telling you they are nearing the end of their lifespan.

What you may not realise is that you can cause damage to the light bulbs when installing them in the fixture,  causing a poor electrical connection. The first thing to check when you buy a new light bulb is to place it in the fixture to see if it has a flickering issue. 

Wiring is Loose

Loose wiring is a very common problem that can result in flickering lights. The loose wire doesn't have to be on the light circuit. Loose connections can be anywhere on the system, causing flickering lights throughout the electrical system.

Overloaded Circuits

When your electrical circuits are placed under pressure with a heavy electrical load, it can cause a voltage drop, causing your lights to flicker. As the voltage drops below a normal operating voltage, the lights will struggle to function at optimum. 

Dimmer Switch Compatibility

Since LED lights were introduced, there has been an increase in demand for dimmer switches. You can get two types of dimmer switches; leading edge and trailing edge. Trailing edge are recommended for use with LED lights. It is essential to ensure the dimmer switch you use is compatible with your lighting. 

Faulty Light Fixtures

Modern light fixtures have different components that can fail over a period of time. Your LED strip lights, fluorescent fixtures, and LED bulkheads all include ballasts, transformers, and starters, all of which are potential failure points. You will find a simple pendant light is less likely to fail when compared to LED strip lights and other modern lighting products. 

Faulty Switch

Yes, even your light switches can get a fault over a period of time, resulting in a poor connection, causing your lights to flicker. On/off switches can develop internal issues, even with their very basic design. 

Conclusion

We have only touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to flickering lights. There are numerous factors that can cause your lights to flicker now and then or regularly. At DKP Electrics, we recommend you call in our experienced team of qualified electricians to inspect your electrics and determine the cause of your flickering lights. Call us today to find out more.

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