As a one-time occurrence, a flickering light bulb can be a spooky surprise that you simply shake off. However, if the problem persists, this can indicate that there’s a larger electrical problem in the works.
Do your lights keep flickering with no signs of stopping? You’ll want to resolve this issue as soon as possible to ensure your electrical system remains safe.
There are many potential reasons why your lights are flickering constantly. Sometimes this problem can have a quick, simple fix. In other cases, you may need to seriously overhaul your electrical system to prevent an electrical fire.
Are you ready to get started? Let’s go over what causes lights to flicker.
Loose Light Bulbs
When discussing what causes lights to flicker, it can be helpful to start with the basics. More often than not, if you notice flickering lights in your home, this can be fixed by tightening your light bulbs. If the bulb is loose in the socket, it will only get intermittent electrical power, which can cause it to blink in and out unexpectedly.
Have you tightened all your light bulbs? If so, remember to check your plugs as well. Loose light plugs can also cause flickering to occur.
Incompatible Light Bulbs
Do you use LED bulbs? If so, using LEDs with an incompatible dimmer switch could be why your lights are flickering constantly.
Most dimmer switches can’t handle the low electrical voltage of LED bulbs. If you think your LEDs could be causing this issue to occur, you may want to consider using different light bulbs or replacing your dimmer with a model that can accommodate them.
Overloaded Circuit
Are you still wondering what causes lights to flicker? Then, it might be time to look closer at your home’s electrical panel.
Believe it or not, your electrical system might be unable to handle all your appliances and devices. For example, if you have large appliances and notice flickering lights, you could be dealing with an overloaded circuit.
Many warning signs can indicate a circuit overload. Besides blinking light fixtures, be on the lookout for tripping circuit breakers, burning odors, and outlets that are warm to the touch. If you think an overloaded circuit breaker could be the culprit behind this problem, don’t hesitate to call an electrician for help. An expert might suggest installing a new circuit to fix the issue, among other suitable solutions.
Faulty Wiring
Damaged wiring is nothing to laugh about. Faulty or loose wiring is a major problem that could be why your lights are flickering constantly — and can also lead to serious house fires if you aren’t careful.
If you think your electrical system could have loose connections, contact a professional electrician as soon as possible. During an inspection, the electrician will look for loose service conductors. Afterward, they’ll provide you with a solution that will thoroughly address the problem. The longer you ignore the problem, the riskier the situation can become.
Have Electrical Problems? Call the Experts for Help!
Hopefully, this guide will help you understand why your lights are flickering constantly. Your electrical system is complicated, so it stands to reason that there are many potential reasons why this issue can occur.
Now that you know what causes lights to flicker, turn to Staley Electric for all of your electrical needs in Little Rock, AR, and the surrounding areas! We offer everything from outlet repairs to electrical panel replacements to keep your home safe and comfortable.
Whether you’re looking for a circuit breaker, outlet, or generator electrician, we have the solutions you’re looking for. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
When it comes to the electrical system in your home, you expect everything to work without a hitch. For example, you immediately expect your phone to start charging when you plug the charger into an outlet. You also expect a room to go from dim to bright the moment you switch on the light.
However, you may one day experience something out of the ordinary. For instance, you might turn on the light one morning — and notice a strange spark as you do so. If this is the case for you, it’s understandable if you feel worried. The word “spark” makes many people immediately think of a fire hazard. It’s only natural that you want to learn what causes a light switch to spark and how you can fix it ASAP.
So, why is your light switch sparking? We’ll answer this question below.
Believe It or Not, Sparking Can Be Normal
If you want to know what causes a light switch to spark, it’s important to start by saying that this occurrence isn’t always something that you should be worried about. In fact, a small spark can be completely normal.
When you turn on a light switch, you may notice a small spark as a result of the electricity attempting to leap from one contact to another. This is known as a “load arc.”
Of course, you should also be wary of any large sparks or additional problems — as these can be a matter of concern.
However, Sparking Can Also Be Cause For Concern
There are several potential reasons why your light switch is sparking. Although this occurrence can be normal, it’s important to be aware of the fact that it can also signify that it’s time to replace your light switch.
Keep an eye out for scorch marks, snapping sounds, or visible signs of smoking. In most cases, these problems — when combined with sparking — will indicate that your light switch has become faulty.
When it comes down to it, there’s a chance that the light switch has simply worn out. If you want to know why your light switch is sparking, consider the possibility that the switch has reached the end of its service life. Get in touch with a residential electrician in Little Rock as soon as possible so that they can perform a professional replacement.
Additional Signs of a Bad Light Switch
Now that you know what causes a light switch to spark, you might want to know what other signs can indicate that it’s time to replace your light switches. All-in-all, the answer to this question can vary depending on what kind of switch you have.
Standard Toggle Switch
When you turn on a toggle switch, it should always feel cold. If you find that the light switch is warm to the touch, this is often a common sign that it’s going bad. Also keep a record of if and when your light flickers, as this can also be traced back to a faulty switch.
You’ll also want to listen for any sounds that are out of the ordinary. These noises can include crackling or buzzing; when you hear these sounds, there’s a good chance that electricity is arcing inside the switch. It’s important to address this problem immediately, as these noises can indicate that a fire hazard is present.
Dimmer Switch
It’s fairly normal for dimmer switches to be warm to the touch. However, if the switch feels hot to an excessive degree, this is certainly cause for concern and can indicate that you should replace the switch.
If you think your dimmer switch might be at the end of its life, watch out for any strange sounds. In some instances, buzzing can suggest that you need to use a different type of light bulb. All you have to do in this specific situation is choose a new type of light bulb. However, in other cases, these unexpected noises can signal that your dimmer switch should be replaced.
Upgrade Your Light Switches With Staley Electric!
If you’ve handled small home improvement projects throughout your home, you might be tempted to replace the faulty light switch yourself. However, it’s important to remember that light switches have many parts, including ground wires and terminal screws. If you’ve never worked with these electrical components, the smartest and safest option is to turn to a professional electrician for the job instead.
Now that you have a better understanding of why your light switch is sparking, contact the professional team at Staley Electric. Whether you need an electrician for generators, wire connections, or faulty light switches, rest assured that our experts can provide you with a dependable solution.
If you think you need your light switch replaced, we’re happy to help. Our professional electricians know what causes a light switch to spark and can fix the problem without delay. We’re proud to provide light switch repairs in Little Rock, AR, or the surrounding area today!
At Staley Electric, our electrical safety lessons began in 1951 when our founder and CEO, R.E. Staley, started this company in his garage. Generations of Staleys have grown up with respect for electricity, and we share our knowledge with our customers. In honor of National Electrical Safety Month, here are some important electrical safety tips and information:
Every year, when spring comes around, many households set out to do a little spring cleaning. What they may not prioritize, however, is any necessary electrical “cleaning” to decrease safety hazards at home.
This year, make sure you actually stick to your financial goals by taking into consideration these five electrical upgrades that can save you money at home.
Home automation is a trending option for homeowners because it improves your home’s energy-efficiency, increases the lifespan of light bulbs, and ultimately saves you more money in the long-run. This technology allows you to preset your electronics to turn on and off during certain times of the day, so you can come home to a well-lit, comfortable environment, all while using less electrical energy during the times you’re not home. Home automation is our number one recommendation for people wanting to reduce their monthly electric bills. We sat down with Brent Staley to explain more about our home automation options.
“Today I want to talk to you a little bit about home automation. Everybody needs to be in the know now and needs to see everything on their app. At Staley, we have the ability to install doorbells that have a camera allowing you to see who’s at your door and what’s going on outside. It will alert you if somebody walks onto your front porch.
We can install smoke detectors that will alert you if there is an issue in your home. They also light up like an occupancy sensor in case somebody is walking through the hallway, acting as a nightlight. We have switches and outlets that can be controlled by your phone so you can schedule when lights come on and when lights go off. We install Nest cameras so you can see your camera systems on your phone. Lastly – and I think this is a cool one – we can install a wireless device on your home generator. You can see when it exercises, and when it’s working, when it needs maintenance, and all of the data that you could ever possibly need.
The reason we do home automation is because more and more people want to know what’s going on in their home when they’re not there. It’s just a great security feature to be able to know who’s at your door. Is there a fire, is there smoke, is my generator running? Is it not? Can I turn my lights off while I’m not at home, or did I forget to turn something off that I can turn off using my phone? We’re seeing more and more people adopting this type of technology.”
Ready to install home automation in your home? Call or text us at (501) 565-3006 or fill out our appointment form online.
