When some people think of problems with their electrical system, they may think of circuits that are constantly tripping the breaker, or even of electrical fires started by bad wiring. While these are obviously very real and very legitimate concerns, the fact is that there are plenty of other problems that homeowners may encounter that are not quite so dramatic. Just because they are not particularly dramatic, though, does not mean that they should simply be ignored.
One very common problem with electrical systems is the flickering of lights throughout the house. When homeowners have flickering lights, they may be tempted to just write the problem off as a somewhat minor annoyance. In truth, though, flickering lights could be indicative of a pretty serious problem — or they could be resolved with a very simple fix. In either case, you really should not just learn to live with your flickering lights. Keep this information in mind, and don’t hesitate to schedule service with a professional electrician in Shoreline, WA.
Try Tightening Up the Bulb
Okay, we’ll start off with something a best-case scenario. Is it just one light in your home that is flickering? Then the solution may be as simple as a loose bulb that is not hitting the contacts in the fixture properly. By simply tightening up the bulb, you may be able to solve the problem. Chances are if lights throughout your home, or if multiple lights in one particular area, are flickering, though, the solution won’t be quite this simple.
The Fixture Itself May Be to Blame
If the light bulb does not seem to be the problem, then you may have an issue with a particular fixture in your home. It could even be the switch that is loose. Try wiggling the switch a bit when it is in the on position. If that seems to affect the flickering of the light in question, then you may need a new light switch in order to resolve the problem.
Are Your Appliances Playing a Role?
Do your lights dim or flicker when certain appliances in the home are turned on? you could be overloading circuits or experiencing instances of fluctuating voltage. If the voltage is not sufficient for the appliances and lights on any given circuit, a professional electrician may need to tweak the design of your electrical system and circuits.
Damaged Wiring
This is where we start to get into dangerous territory. If you have damaged wiring, or wiring that is simply too old to operate effectively anymore, then you need to hire a professional electrician to rewire the affected area. It is very important to remember that any problems with wiring in your home can result in a dangerous situation, posing the threat of fire. The last thing that you want is to be shocked by compromised wiring, to run into shorted out appliances, or to have a fire break out in your home.
If you notice any issues with your electrical system, lights or otherwise, schedule service with the pros here at G & S Heating Cooling & Electric.
