​Most Common Electrical Problems Part 4 – Flickering Lights.

Here’s how to deal with the most common household electrical issues (part 4 of 6). Go here for parts one, two and three.

4. Lights Flicker, Bulbs Burn Out Too Often or are too Bright/Dim

There are a number of reasons your lights can be burning out too often:

• Wattage is too high
• Insulation is too close to the light
• Bad wiring on the circuit
• Bad wiring on the mains
• On a dimmer switch, too much total wattage on one switch

Isolating the issue can be tricky for non-professionals. If you’re going through light bulbs like it’s nobody’s business, it might be worth reaching out to a Mellor Electrical Group electrician to help identify the root cause of light bulb burnouts.

When a light fixture has a bulb screwed in that is a higher wattage than it should be, it can be highly dangerous. The intense heat of the bulb can burn or melt the socket and insulation on the fixture wiring, which causes an increased risk of arcing (sparks jumping around your wires), the most significant cause of electrical fires. Damage can remain to a socket even after you switch the bulb to the correct wattage. Always stay within the suggested wattage range for your lights. If the wattage is not listed, then use a 60-watt bulb or lower.

If some lights seem too bright while others are dim, there’s two probable causes:

1. Different wattage globes. Make sure all the globes are identical.
2. Bad main neutral connection: This will continue to cause problems until it is fixed by a professional.

If any of your recessed lighting (like downlights) are turning off and then coming back on, it is because they are equipped with safety devices that cut out power to the light when it gets too hot. Again, check bulb wattage is not too high. If it is correct, check whether the insulation in the ceiling is too close to the bulb.

If any of your lights are flickering, there is probably a poor connection on the circuit and you will need to contact the Mellor Electrical Group.

WHAT TO DO IF PROBLEMS PERSIST

Safety around the home is paramount, so if electrical problems are ongoing around your home, you should contact the Mellor Electrical Group.

If you’re ever unsure about the electrical safety of your home, the Mellor Electrical Group will answer your questions. For peace of mind, have an electrical safety check done by one of our expert electricians.

Stay tuned for more posts about other common electrical problems and how to deal with them.

To learn more about Mellor Electrical Group and the services we provide, go to https://melloreg.com.au/ for call 1300 MELLOR (635 567)