Are your lights flickering?

Flickering lights is a relatively common issue and do not always indicate a problem with your electrical system. If your lighting flickers in your home or office there are a variety of explanations, here are the main causes below and how to address them:

If a single light bulb is flickering, it’s likely that it’s the bulb causing the issue. You can check to make sure the bulb is secured properly in the fitting (always make sure you switch the light off before doing this to stay safe). If a bulb isn’t secured properly then this can cause a flicker as it’s not connected correctly. If you find the light still flickers when it’s switched back on it could mean that the particular bulb needs to be replaced as it’s at the end of its lifespan.

It may be the switch that needs replacing if you switch the light back on and find it still flickers. If the flickering doesn’t die down after switching it on and off a few times, you could be dealing with a faulty switch. After replacing the bulb and finding that you still have an issue, it should always be investigated by a trained professional to avoid any risk of danger.

You may have a larger problem on your hands if all lights flicker. The root cause can be because of a recent turn for bad weather, but if you find this happens on a regular basis it could be for a number of reasons, one of them being a fluctuation of voltage. Take note of the timings and contact a professional to take a look before any further damage is caused.

Many fluorescent and energy saving bulbs do this when first switched on and this is completely normal. As long as the flicker stops after lighting up completely it’s nothing to worry about.

The scenarios above will help you to undertake some basic trouble shooting, but we would always advise that you get in touch with a professional to do any in-depth electrical work or troubleshooting. If you are concerned about your lighting, get in touch to find out how we can help.