subject: Flickering Lights? [print this page] Flickering Lights? Flickering Lights?
Imagine this scenario. A few days ago, you thought you noticed your lights flickering. You tried to determine if one of your light bulbs needed to be changed. This was not the case of a simple light bulb burning out. At this point, it took you only a few minutes to realize that it was affecting all the lights in that part of the house and not just a single light bulb. You could be wondering what your next step should be.
Your next step should be to call a qualified electrician. This is the kind of situation that calls for a professional in the electrical industry. Electricians are trained to handle these types of problems that sometimes crop up in people's houses.
Although flickering of lights can seem minor to a homeowner, this type of problem can have some very serious consequences. Depending on what situation is causing the problem, there is a very real danger of a fire starting. Only a trained electrician can determine what is causing the problems with the lighting in your home.
One possibility that could be the cause of flickering lights in your house include arcing. Arcing occurs when an electrical wire has come loose. Instead of having full contact with the other wires, it is close, but not touching the other wires properly. The electrical current is attempting to reach the other wire by jumping over the gap and the result is a momentary lull in your service. Sparks can also result from arcing and there is a good possibility that those sparks could create a large buildup of heat. This could be the right conditions under which an electrical fire could start.
Another possibility for the brief flickering of lights is that the breaker that controls that particular portion of lights is going bad or the entire breaker box is going bad. As is the case with arcing, a breaker or breaker box that are going bad require the trained expertise of a qualified electrician to determine the true problem. Only a professional is equipped with the knowledge and skills to effectively and safely troubleshoot an electrical problem of this nature. You should call an electrician to come evaluate the problem in your home as soon as possible.
