Why Do Spotlights Flicker?

Date Published: July 4th, 2022

If you are wondering ‘why do spotlights flicker in my home?’, then you have come to the right place. We will talk you through the possible reasons why a spotlight may flicker, whether you should be worried and what to do if the lights are flickering. Whilst flickering is often not a serious issue, it is important to get it checked out or investigate the root causes, to be on the safe side and simply for convenience. 

One of the main things you can do to prevent spotlights from flickering in your home is to invest in durable, high-quality and modern LED ceiling spotlights. The quality will ensure that the spotlights last a long time, and seem brand-new for years to come! 

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Reasons a spotlight may flicker:

Here are some of the reasons why spotlights might flicker in your home… 

1. Loose wiring or bulb

Sometimes spotlights flickering in your home can be as simple as a loose wire or bulb. This causes the lights to flicker as it interferes with the constant stream of electricity being passed through. You can solve this issue by tightening the bulb, and seeing if the lights stop flickering. 

However, if you believe it might be loose wiring, then you should call in a qualified electrician. The electrician will take a look and tighten the wire if needed, to ensure that it is secure and safe. It can be dangerous to fix wiring if you are not qualified, and it can lead to loose wiring unseen, and it can lead to a fire in your home. 

2. Dirty/dusty sockets

Over time, sockets can accumulate dust and debris, which can cause the lights to flicker as the dirt could be blocking the electric current. This is an easy issue to fix. Clean the dirt from around the socket, and then unscrew the bulb or spotlight and clean it. Ensure that all power is turned off when you are doing this. 

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3. Sharing electricity with high power appliances

Some appliances in your home might take up a lot of power, such as the fridge, washing machine or dishwasher. High power appliances should have their own breakers, as this prevents interference. A qualified electrician can arrange this for you. 

4. Dimmer issues

If you have bought an incompatible dimmer for your lights, this can cause flickering. This is especially true for LED lights. You can check if you have got the correct dimmer by reading the small print on the packaging of LED lights. Dimmers have wattage ratings, so this should match up to the wattage of your bulb. 

Should you be worried if your lights are flickering?

Generally, flickering is harmless and is usually caused by a loose bulb or dirt, which will only take a few minutes to sort out. However, you should not ignore flickering as it could be a more serious problem. Once you get to the root cause of the flickering, you should sort it out before the flickering gets worse, or even more dangerous. If you are unsure of what the issue is, then we advise you to get in touch with an electrician, who will be able to identify and solve the flickering problem, 

If you are interested in finding out more about why lights might be flickering in your home, you should check out our blog post about the topic, you can find it here. 

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What to do if your spotlights are flickering?

Here are a few things you can do if you notice your LED spotlights are flickering:

• Check that the bulbs are screwed in tightly.

• Investigate the wiring - is it loose or damaged? 

• Clean the sockets and around the bulb.

• Get an electrician to investigate the issue. 

• Ensure that the dimmer you are using is compatible with the spotlights. 

• Check that the LED bulbs you are using are compatible with the electric circuits in your home. 

• See if the high power appliances are on a separate breaker.