Having certain light fixtures in your house that keep flickering can be annoying. More than being a nuisance, flickering lights can potentially signal a major problem that could pose an extreme safety risk. Learn what can cause this issue so that you know when you need to contact a professional electrician for electrical rewiring or other repairs.

Incompatible Light Bulb

This first issue applies only to light fixtures that are on a dimmer switch. One thing many people aren't aware of is that only some LED and compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs are dimmable. Using a non-dimmable LED bulb in a fixture with a dimmer switch isn't a major issue, but it usually makes the bulb flicker whenever the brightness is turned down. It can also shorten the lifespan of the lightbulb. Using a non-dimmable CFL with a dimmer switch is a serious issue. That's because there have been many situations where this caused the light fixture to catch on fire. As such, it's important to carefully check the label when purchasing any CFLs you plan on using with a dimmer switch to make sure they are compatible.

Damaged Light Socket

One situation that often results in a single flickering light is putting it in a damaged screw-in type socket. This type of socket has a small piece of metal at the bottom that gets compressed when you screw in the light bulb. This piece, the contactor, is what supplies power from the fixture to the bulb when the light is turned on. Over time, the contactor can bend to the point where it no longer makes solid contact with the base of the bulb. The result is that the power flowing to the bulb can occasionally fluctuate and cause the light to flicker or completely go out. You can also end up with power fluctuations that cause the light to flicker if the socket is loose and no longer connects properly to the fixture. These issues are one of the first things an electrician will check for if you have a single light that often flickers. Sometimes, an electrician can repair the socket just by bending the piece of metal back into place. If this doesn’t work, they'll remove the socket and install a new one. While it's usually possible to find a replacement socket that will fit the fixture, this isn't always the case. Sometimes, your only option is to replace the entire light fixture.

Wiring Issues

Certain types of wiring issues can also lead to a single light fixture flickering or cause all of the lights in one part of the house to flicker. This can include things like a loose connection, a short circuit or a damaged wire. If the issue lies with the wiring in the light fixture itself or the wire that leads to the fixture, the power flowing through the fixture can fluctuate, causing the light to flicker. There can also be issues with the wiring in one of your electrical circuits that cause some or all of the lights on that circuit to flicker. Any type of wiring issue is a major concern because it could cause an electrical fire. This risk is the main reason why you should never ignore flickering lights. While the cause could be something minor and create nothing more than an inconvenience, there's always the chance you're dealing with a major safety hazard.

Insufficient Power

The amount of electricity you can use at one time is determined by the amperage of your electrical service panel. To meet the electrical needs of a modern home, you usually need a minimum of 100 amps of power. However, this often isn't enough, especially if the house has more than two or three 240-volt appliances. If your electrical panel doesn't supply enough amps, you'll frequently experience issues with flickering lights in various rooms or even throughout the entire house. This most commonly happens in situations like turning on your clothes dryer or when an appliance like an air conditioner or electric water heater switches on. Your lights can flicker in these situations because the appliance ends up using much of the available power, resulting in a decrease in the power flowing through the rest of the electrical system. This is especially common when an air conditioner turns on since it requires a huge amount of power to start up each of its motors. The main concern if your electrical panel doesn't supply enough amps is that the panel can end up overloaded and start a fire. If you frequently experience this type of issue, it's a good idea to upgrade your home with a larger panel that supplies more amps. While an electrical panel upgrade isn't cheap, it's more than worth the cost since it will make your electrical system safer.

Other Electrical Issues to Watch Out For

While flickering lights can sometimes be a sign of a serious electrical issue, there are many other things you need to watch out for as well. One thing that's definitely an emergency is if you're using an outlet and it starts smoking or smells like it's burning. This usually indicates that one of the wires in the outlet is loose. In this situation, the current jumps across the wire to the connection, resulting in sparks that can start melting the plastic part of the outlet. If this happens, and you don't immediately unplug everything from the outlet, there's an extremely high chance that it will catch on fire. If you ever encounter this issue or notice burn marks on an outlet, don't use it until you can have an electrician replace the outlet. Light switches can have the same issue and catch fire, so this is something else to watch out for. Similarly, an outlet or light switch that feels hot can indicate it's at risk of catching fire. Another thing to watch for is if one or more of your circuit breakers keep tripping. A single breaker that often trips indicates a problem with the wiring in the circuit it controls. If different breakers are often tripping, it most likely means there's an issue with your electrical panel, and you may need to have it replaced. Unusual sounds like humming, crackling, or buzzing coming from your electrical panel generally indicate a serious electrical problem that requires immediate attention. If you hear humming, it’s a good idea to switch off your main breaker. If you hear a crackling or buzzing sound, don't go anywhere near your electrical panel. That's because this often indicates the panel has an arc fault, which could seriously burn or electrocute you. If you're having any issues with your electrical system, turn to Mister Sparky®. We have a team of local electricians you can trust for all your needs. No matter whether it's a basic installation or extensive electrical repairs, you can rest assured we'll do the job right and safely. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee and StraightForward® pricing on all our services. That means you can be certain you'll get quality work for a fair price. To schedule an inspection or any other service in Ramsey or elsewhere in Northern Minnesota, contact us at Mister Sparky® today.