According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average U.S. household uses 11,000 Kilowatt hours (kWh) each year. When broken down further, this translates to 29,310 watts each day.
Electricity is a vital element used to power our homes, from appliances to electronic devices and household lighting. But what happens when it malfunctions?
In the movies, house lights flickering is usually a sign of a ghost haunting the premises. However, in real life, flickering house lights could be attributed to a number of different causes with varying severities.
To learn more about these potential issues and what can be done about them, keep reading below for more information.
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Loose or Malfunctioning Bulbs
Often, the cause of house lights flickering is a very simple cause. A loose bulb in a light socket won’t make proper contact between the bulb’s metal base and the socket.
Without the proper contact, the flow of electricity between the two elements becomes inconsistent. This will then lead to flickering house lights.
In older incandescent bulbs, a faulty or worn-out filament can also cause flickering. The filament is the thin wire inside the bulb responsible for emitting light when the electric current is heated. If the filament is damaged or if the bulb is reaching the end of its lifespan, it can start to flicker, signaling that the bulb needs to be replaced.
Faulty or Loose Electrical Sockets and Outlets
If you notice the house lights flickering when you plug an appliance into an outlet, this could be cause for concern. This may mean your outlets aren’t properly grounded or have loose connections.
Faulty electrical outlets are also the number one cause of electrical-based house fires in the United States. Home-based electrical fires cause 51,000 fires per year and over $1.3 billion in property damage.
Loose electrical socket connections create sparks when a device is plugged in. This causes heat build-up from loose wiring, leading to fires. A professional electrician can help repair flickering house lights caused by faulty electrical outlets.
Damaged or Aging Wiring
Faulty or aging wiring can be caused by a variety of different issues. These include issues like:
- old wiring materials
- worn insulation
- inadequate grounding
- corroded wires
There is also the issue of overloaded circuits which can put a strain on an outdated home electrical system.
Aged wiring prevents electrical currents from making the proper conduction and flow of electrical currents in your home. Not only does this cause issues with house lights flickering, but it is also a potential fire hazard.
If you’re trying to troubleshoot flickering house lights in your home, it is important to have a trained electrician service, like Linc Electric, inspect your home’s wiring for these problem areas.
Dimmer Switch Issues as a Cause of House Lights Flickering
Dimmer switches are a great way to help you control the lighting in your home. But if you are attempting to use a dimmer switch with a non-compatible light bulb, this can lead to your house lights flickering.
You also need to be aware of the capacities of your dimmer switch, as it may have minimum and maximum load specifications. An overloaded or underloaded dimmer switch can cause performance issues.
Another cause of flickering house lights may point back to a fault within the dimmer switch itself. If this is the case, you will need to replace the dimmer switch.
Bulb and Socket Incompatibilities
Lightbulbs and light sockets have specific wattage specifications on them for a reason. They denote the maximum wattage that a particular socket will allow, as well as the lightbulb’s maximum wattage.
While it may be tempting to put a high-wattage lightbulb into a low-wattage socket to maximize the light in a room, it is not a good idea. You need to be mindful of not placing a lightbulb with a high-wattage into a lower-wattage socket or a low-watt bulb into a high-wattage socket.
Incorrectly using the wrong wattage lightbulb in the wrong socket can lead to house light flickering. It can also lead to potential overheating issues and bulb damage.
Electrical Appliance Interference
Household appliance ownership can also lead to house lights flickering. These appliances help make our lives easier but they can also put a strain on the existing electrical capabilities of the home.
The number of household appliances owned by the average homeowner has also increased over the years. For single-occupancy households, the average number of household appliances was around 10.6. For a 2-person household, this number jumps to around 13.8 household appliances.
Larger appliances like air conditioners and refrigerators use a lot more energy to operate. When these appliances turn on, they can pull more power from the home’s electrical grid. This can cause dimming or flickering house lights.
Overloaded Electrical Circuits
The circuits within our homes are responsible for directing the flow of electricity from one room to another. However, if you have too many appliances and devices plugged into the outlets in one room in your home, it can cause flickering house lights.
This is because you have too many appliances drawing power simultaneously. The electrical demand overloads the circuit’s capacity which is one of the leading causes of house lights flickering.
Consider adapting your circuit needs for your most frequently used rooms. Or, if need be, simply unplug some devices that don’t require constant electricity.
Voltage Fluctuations
Voltage fluctuations may be caused by energy factors inside your home, like your appliance use or your home’s specific electrical wiring. However, it can also be caused by elements outside of your home as well. External issues are
You may experience issues like house lights flickering due to temporary or prolonged issues with the power grid. It may also concern the electrical supply from the utility company itself.
For example, during the summertime, when air conditioning use is at its peak, this can put a strain on the power grid and cause an increased demand for electricity. Lights can flicker while the power company attempts to compensate for this increase in power usage.
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Flickering house lights can be a definite annoyance, but they may also be a sign of a potentially bigger electrical problem. Finding fault with house lights isn’t always an easy task. Thankfully, a skilled and professional electrician has the knowledge and expertise to determine the cause of house lights flickering.
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