My goals for the next five years are to fine tune Root Electric's brand strategy and to diversify its scope of services, while remaining true to the discipline of electrical work. As far as I know, my house isn’t haunted, but I’m spooked that this could cause a fire. If that does the trick, it may be that the two just needed a more secure fit. Sometimes, the bulb just isn’t screwed in all the way. The entire house is blinking/flickering – If the lights throughout your home are flickering, then you need an electrician to come inspect your main electrical service as quickly as possible. In either case, do not try to fix this yourself to avoid electrical shock—call Root Electric and we’ll safely find and fix the problem for you. By Bob Vila. It might be normal for this to happen when there is a bad thunderstorm barreling through the area (in which case, you might want to install whole house surge protection). Unfortunately, it’s not the kind that sparks a brilliant idea, but rather, a problem that requires an immediate repair. Bill Root. Woodbridge, VA 22192 Get free, no-commitment estimates from licensed electricians near you. Privacy Policy. These are high capacity wires and could be a fire hazard. A: It appears you’re having a “lightbulb” moment. If correctly installing the bulb doesn’t solve the flickering, there could be a problem with the wiring in the lamp or the switch or the outlet into which the lamp is plugged. This is entirely normal behavior for fluorescent bulbs, tubes and the new, energy-saving CFLs. > Residential Electrical Services If the flickering continues, there is most likely a problem with the lamp. Short of festive holiday lights or decorative faux candles, a flickering light in a standard fixture is not normal. Arlington Electrician > Electrical Safety and Repair Tips, Woodbridge Electrician Fairfax Electrician During my tenure at Root Electric, I lead the transition of Root Electric from a primarily sub-contracting based business model to a prime-contracting based business model. The issue could also arise from a loose connection between the plug and the outlet. Purchase a voltmeter online (view example on Amazon) or at your local hardware store to gauge your home’s output, or hire an electrician to take a look. But if you have widespread flickering lights throughout your home, this is a symptom of a much bigger problem. > Commercial Electrical Services The solution could be as simple as twisting the bulb so that it sits tightly enough into the socket to make the necessary connection. However flickering lights in the above cases could also be caused by a faulty switch or dimmer, requiring the attention of a qualified electrician. Wiggle the switch gently to see if it evokes a flicker; if yes, simply replace it to stop the strobe light effect. Usually, it takes a few moments after switching them on to reach their full illumination, and along the way, there may be some flickering. Or maybe you just can’t see any rhyme or reason for the lights flickering and are starting to get headaches from it! If so, then there may be a problem with the wiring of the outlet. If you ever have any problems with or questions about your home’s electrical system, please contact Root Electric at (703) 494-3989 for assistance. Pay attention to the patterns: If you notice your lights flicker consistently when large appliances such as your air conditioner are running, the problem could be that your overall voltage is fluctuating too often, or that you have too much sensory overload on the same circuit. In any event, whether it’s a system-wide problem or confined to one location, these problems can quickly turn into a fire hazard; call an electrician to pinpoint the problem. It can signal that the voltage to your electrical system is fluctuating, which can cause damage to the wiring and all the electronics you have plugged into your system around the house. Whole House Lights Flickering Am I being overly cautious, or do I need to call an electrician? Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. Although electrical problems should always be taken seriously, you can discern the quick fixes from the causes for concern with these helpful tips. Prince William County Bob Vila, 5 Ways to Prevent Cracks in Concrete—and 1 Easy Fix, The 15 Smartest and Smallest DIYs You Can Do for Your Home. Accomplishments have been made by developing a team based approach to researching and implementing a service-specific client management system. It’s all about the connections: A loose one between the on/off switch on your lamp or light fixture and the lightbulb itself could be the culprit. If the lights all throughout your home are flickering, then it’s a bigger issue. Maybe they only flicker when you turn on something else? See Our Coronovirus Policy. Loose or outdated wiring is one of the leading causes of house fires. Your home shares a transformer with surrounding homes, so a cause of flickering lights may be your neighbors’ heavy electrical usage, or damage caused by downed trees or power lines.