
Curious about the cost to replace all the electrical outlets in your house? Electricians will offer a price break, so it’s a smart buy. Find out more here.
Power up your knowledge by knowing how to fix common problems with your lights
LED bulbs are inexpensive to replace.
Defective bulbs are the most common issue.
Check your bulbs first, then the socket, switch, wires, and finally your home’s power unit.
Most issues can’t be DIYed due to electrical safety risks and fire hazards.
LED lights are one of the most common types of lightbulbs. They’re known for their extreme energy efficiency and long lifespan but will need to be replaced eventually. Having to replace some bulbs is a best-case scenario compared to other, more expensive issues.
Check the socket with a new lightbulb. If it stops flickering, but the old LED continues flickering, replace it.
Installing dimmer switches adds control over your home’s ambiance, but not all bulbs work with them. A common problem is that the bulb works fine when the dimmer is set to maximum brightness, but flickers at any other setting. Make sure the dimmer switch works before assuming it’s the bulb that’s causing the flickering.
Check that the dimmer is working correctly by using a bulb that matches the switch. If the dimmer switch functions correctly, replace the bulb with one that works with dimmer switches.
You may not be able to diagnose this unless you have electrical experience. What happens is your system directs power in certain ways, and sometimes it only allows a certain amount of power to the light socket. If you notice your bulbs flickering only when you turn on power-hungry appliances like laundry machines, ovens, or plug-in items like treadmills or vacuums, it’s probably your power system.
Have a pro make sure you aren’t overloading your system.
Consider switching lights (first) or appliances (second).
Ensure you don’t have a bad ground cable.
This can be damage to the physical switch, the wire running from the wall to the bulb, wires inside the walls, or a breaker. Some damage may be obvious and you can address it yourself but if you can’t find any other reason for flickering bulbs, it’s best to have a local electrical pro check it out. Unfortunately, bad wires are a common cause of house fires.
If it’s safe, switch any existing damaged pieces—but don’t go looking in the walls. A pro would need to do any work that isn’t switching a fuse or swapping a dimmer switch.
This issue is self-explanatory. Just like screws, locks, doors, and many other household items, bulbs can become loose over time. Another reason is they weren’t screwed in tight enough in the first place. Along with aging bulbs that require replacing, this is the easiest issue to fix in this list.
Tighten the bulb.
If the issue is the bulb is loose because of damage to the light socket, replace that (or have a pro do it).
Smart light switches are becoming more popular and with good reason—savings, burglar prevention, and convenience are all serious benefits. However, smart devices are just another point of failure if you’re diagnosing LED flickers. Almost all the issues of smart devices are due to electronic errors. If the unit isn’t broken, make sure it’s getting ample power. Otherwise, the device may need repair.
Toggle the device on and off. Simple, but it often fixes the problem.
Check that the device is working correctly by switching your light bulbs.
If it’s flickering no matter which bulb, check the device for error codes or have a pro take a look at it.
Sometimes a call to the smart device company can solve the issue.
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Curious about the cost to replace all the electrical outlets in your house? Electricians will offer a price break, so it’s a smart buy. Find out more here.
The cost to install a 240-volt outlet varies depending on the amperage and the home’s current wiring conditions. Use this guide to budget for your next project.
The cost to install a 220v outlet will depend on factors such as what type of 220v outlet you need and other key factors you can learn about in this cost guide.
If you want a secure, reliable, high-speed internet connection, a hard-wired solution might be for you. Here’s how to wire your house for ethernet.
Causes for lights with no power but the breaker is not tripped include a tripped GFCI, old outlets, and damaged wiring. Keep reading to learn more.
To wire outlets and lights on a single circuit, you need experience with electricity. Keep reading to learn how to wire outlets and lights on the same circuit.