Flickering LED Lights: Quick Fixes You Can Try at Home

Are you getting annoyed at the flickering lights above your head? Do you want to figure out what's causing the problem to see if you need to purchase a new light? If so, then it's best to start by learning the quick fixes of flickering LED lights.

Doing so can help ensure that you don't have to endure a flickering light above your head ever again. You'll be able to understand what's causing the problem and how to fix it quickly.

See below for an in-depth guide answering many of the most common questions leading to flickering LED lights in your home.

What Causes Flickering LED Lights?

Before we discuss how you can go about fixing the flickering LED lights, you need to understand what might be causing them. Contrary to popular belief, flickering isn't an automatic sign that you need a new LED light.

Here are some of the most common causes of flicker LED lights in homes:

• The LED light you've installed isn't compatible with your dimmer switch
• The inrush of other appliances on the same breaker as your light is too significant. If the light is on when you turn on the other appliance, the light might flicker.
• There is a loose bulb or loose wiring in your lights.

If it's the first or third cause on this list, then fixing the problem might be as simple as tightening the light bulb or getting a dimmer-compatible LED light.

However, if you believe it to be the second cause on the list, then a professional electrician should be contacted right away. You should never have all of your appliances on one breaker, that's an electrical hazard. 

If you're installing LED strip lights for the first time, then be sure to read this article for 8 tips you can use when installing LED strips.

What Are the Different Types of Flickering?

Did you know that there are two different types of flickering? You might be dealing with either a visible flicker or an invisible flicker. It's important to know the difference between the two.

As their names would imply, visible flickers are ones that are visible by the human eye. Invisible flickers are ones that are not visible to our eyes. Here's a bit more specifics on each:

• Visible Flicker-- Any flicker below a frequency of 100Hz is considered a visible flicker. If not fixed, it can cause epileptic seizures due to the frequent exposure to 3Hz to 70Hz frequencies.
• Invisible Flicker-- Causes other health concerns for humans, even though the flicker isn't visible to the human eye. These concerns include chronic headaches, dizziness, weak stomach, or an inability to focus

As you can see, flickering lights aren't just an annoyance, they're a legitimate threat to your health. 

The answer to either flicker issue is to schedule a time for a professional electrician to come by. If you've noticed that you and your family are experiencing frequent headaches, invisible flickers might be the suspect. If so, it's time to install new LED lights.

How to Troubleshoot the Flickering Light

Perhaps this will be your first time troubleshooting a flickering light. If so, then the process isn't difficult, you just have to know what to look for!

Start by looking into the current wiring of your light. Identify the circuit and then check to see if there are any loose wires in or around it. Take the lamp and screw it into place, making sure that it doesn't jostle around.

Look for the connection point on your light, make sure that it hasn't accidentally become loosened. If it is loose, then you'll want to turn off the circuit power to the light so that you can safely tighten the wiring. 

If the wiring isn't the issue, then it might have something to do with things like:

• Having incompatible switches
• Having a light with the incorrect wattage
• Needing to install driver components to reduce "peaking"
• Voltage levels that are drastically changing

Invest in a Better Lighting Company

Sadly, there are lighting companies out there that are more concerned with making a quick buck than they are with customer satisfaction or energy efficiency. Because of that, they use cheap materials, which can ultimately be the reason for your flickering lights.

For that reason, you need to make sure that you're investing in (and installing) high-quality LED lights for your home.

At Birddog Lighting, we offer LED lighting options for products such as:

• LED rope lights
• LED bulbs
• LED lighting fixtures
• LED light dimmers
• Holiday lights and decorations
• LED neon lights
• LED strip lights

The list goes on and on. If you have a lighting need for your residential or commercial property, we have an LED option for it! 

If you've used the pointers above to troubleshoot the problem but found no legible reason for the flickering lights, then it's time to invest in a better product.

Our LED rope lights and strip lights are exceptionally easy to work with. Simply unspool the light and plug them in. If you prefer, they can also be hardwired, but we recommend receiving the help of a licensed electrician to do so!

Rid Your Home of Those Flickering LED Lights Today

Now that you have seen all of the different ways that you can troubleshoot and fix flickering LED lights for your home, be sure to use this guide wisely.

Read this article for more information on the 8 factors that you should consider when choosing an LED lighting company to work with.

For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out via our contact us page and we will be happy to assist you further.