Keeping Current With Electricians

Posted on: 22 February 2022

Many people consider flickering lights a minor issue. However, this seemingly small problem is capable of causing a fire. That is why you need to address it as soon as it emerges. But as you wait for the electrical contractor, pay attention to how your lights behave. That way, you will give your electrician the correct details of the problem. This increases the chances of a proper diagnosis and repair. Here are the unusual behaviors of faulty bulbs and what each sign means.

Only One of the Lights Flicker

If only one of the bulbs keeps blinking, it could be loosely attached. It might also be a loose connection in the wiring. To rectify this issue, you can try tightening the bulb with the lights switched off. If this does not work, you might want to replace it. 

Keep in mind that loose connections encounter much resistance. Therefore, the longer you ignore the problem, the more the connections overheat. If left unchecked, this issue can ignite a fire. So, you need an electrician's hand to fix the loose connections if it is beyond your scope. 

More Than One Light in a Room Flickers 

Sometimes this issue may only affect specific parts of your home. For example, you might notice that only the lights in your bedrooms flicker. This issue could signal a problem in the circuit that transmits electricity to the affected rooms. Since this is a complex issue, only an electrician should handle it.

The Lights Flickers When an Appliance Is Plugged In

Appliances like the AC, heater, and refrigerator consume lots of electricity. Therefore, it is not uncommon to see some lights flickering whenever you plug any of them. What happens, in this case, is that voltage changes, reducing the current getting to the light bulbs. But this shouldn't be the case, and it could mean that the circuit is overloaded or outdated. So call your electrician to unearth the underlying problem. 

All the Lights Flicker Including Your Neighbors'

If the problem affects the entire building, it usually means the service conductors are loose and could quickly start a fire if ignored. For that reason, you need immediate professional help. And if the issue is happening in your neighbors' houses as well, the problem could be originating from the electrical company.

It is easy to ignore flickering lights when everything else is working. However, doing this invites a host of other issues, such as a fire breakout. Additionally, you may hurt yourself when trying to fix the problem yourself. For this reason, it is advisable to hire an electrical contractor when faced with this problem.