Many homeowners see flickering lights as a unique little quirk of older homes; however, these flickering lights are not actually showcasing your home’s personality. Instead, they’re a bright red flag flapping in the wind, drawing your attention to a serious electrical problem.
The truth is, lights, whether they’re in an old or newly constructed home, should not flicker when you turn on an appliance. Below, we go over the common reasons this happens and what you can do to address the problem to keep your home safe and fully functional.
Common Reasons Your Lights Flicker When You Turn on Appliances
1. Large Appliances Drawing Excess Power
Large appliances that have motors or heating elements — think refrigerators, air conditioners, washers, and dryers — require a massive surge of power to get started. This initial power draw, known as inrush current, can be several times the appliance’s normal operating current.
When this happens, the appliance momentarily monopolizes the electricity on its circuit. This causes a brief voltage drop that affects everything else on that same circuit, including your lights.
If the flickering is minimal and only happens for a second when a major appliance kicks on, you may be fine living with this infrequent flickering. However, if the dimming is significant or the lights flicker continuously while the appliance is running, you likely have an overloaded circuit. An electrician can help you hook the appliance up to its own dedicated circuit.
2. Overloaded Circuits
In an age of countless gadgets and high-powered electronics, it’s easier than ever to overload a circuit. Consider a kitchen circuit. You might have the overhead lights, refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, and toaster all tied to a single breaker. If the lights are on and the refrigerator is running, plugging in and starting the microwave could be the final straw that pushes the circuit to its limit.
While this may seem like a minor problem at first, you will still want to take action as soon as possible. In a worst-case scenario, the overloaded circuit could create a fire hazard.
3. Loose or Outdated Wiring
Over time, the countless electrical connections throughout your home can become loose. When electricity struggles to jump this tiny gap, it creates sporadic disruptions in the flow of power, which you see as flickering lights. Unfortunately, there may be even more going on behind the scenes, such as arcing, which is electricity sparking between the loose connections. Arcing is a major cause of home electrical fires, so don’t dismiss the fact that your lights are flickering when you plug something in or turn on an appliance. Take it as a warning sign that you need to hire an electrician right away.
4. An Outdated Electrical Panel
Your home’s electrical panel directs electricity throughout your home. If it’s outdated or struggling to keep up with your family’s electrical demands, you may notice flickering lights whenever appliances switch on. The only resolution to this problem is an electrical panel upgrade.
5. Utility Company Issues
Sometimes, flickering lights aren’t caused by anything inside your home. External factors, like issues with the power lines or problems on the utility company’s end, can cause fluctuations in voltage. If your neighbors are experiencing the same problems with flickering or dimming lights, give your utility company time to address the situation.
Why You Should Leave Repairs to a Professional Electrician
Attempting to troubleshoot or repair electrical issues on your own can be dangerous. So, if you notice that your lights flicker when you turn on an appliance or plug something in, call a licensed electrician immediately. A professional has the diagnostic tools and expertise to safely test the load on your circuits, inspect wiring connections, check the health of your breakers, and ensure your main electrical panel is functioning correctly. Most importantly, they will be able to protect you and your family from electrical shocks and fires.
Let Saffer Electrical Put a Stop to Your Flickering Lights
If your lights are putting on a show for you when you run the vacuum cleaner or start the microwave oven, don’t write it off as a harmless quirk. Instead, reach out to the professionals at Saffer Electrical. We will help you diagnose any electrical issue, big or small, and then provide the necessary light switch repairs, circuit breaker repairs, and electrical upgrades so that flickering lights don’t steal your peace of mind.