Ceiling fan lights add a new layer of function to the much needed ceiling fans in our home. Ceiling fans are a necessity in our daily lives as it is a cost effective method of keeping our apartments cool.
But the ceiling fan lights sometimes can start flickering due to several reasons. Today, we are going to discuss those reasons and find the appropriate solutions.
Why are my ceiling fan lights flickering?
Ceiling fan lights can start flickering due to several technical issues. The flickering in ceiling fan lights is often caused by old or loose light bulbs. Faulty current limiter, overloaded electrical circuit and loose wiring can also be the cause of flickering in ceiling fan lights.
Your ceiling fan lights can begin flickering for many reasons. Let’s discuss in detail and find out why your ceiling fan lights might be flickering.
Problem with light bulbs:
What kind of light bulbs you use in your ceiling fan light slot can often be the reason why your ceiling fans lights flicker. Fluorescent bulbs are not the ideal choice for ceiling fan lights. They are easily affected by changes in temperature.
They can start flickering when the temperature change is drastic.
LED bulbs should be used instead of fluorescent bulbs to tackle the issue of flickering. Incandescent bulbs are another wise choice when it comes to ceiling fan lights.
When the light bulbs become old, they can start flickering. The old light bulbs have to be replaced by new ones when this happens. Another reason for ceiling fan light flickering can be loose connection of light bulbs.
When the bulbs are not properly connected to the ceiling fan light slot, they will start flickering.
Problem with switch:
Sometimes the same switch is used to operate the ceiling fan and its lights. Whether you are using a double switch or a single switch to operate your ceiling and its lights, the state of the switch or switches needs to be in top condition.
A faulty switch can cause flickering issues in ceiling fan lights. The loose wire connections inside the switch can also cause flickering.
Problem with fixture:
The ceiling fan light fixture can often be the reason behind flickering issues in ceiling fan lights. The old ceiling fan light fixture has to be replaced to solve the issue.
Problem with current limiter:
The ceiling fan and its lights sometimes come with a pre-installed current limiter. This current limiter is crucial when it comes to regulating the wattage limit of light bulbs. When the current limiter becomes faulty, the ceiling fan lights start flickering.
Problem with circuit:
Sometimes the electrical circuits of your home can be the reason behind the flickering issue of ceiling fan lights. The circuits can become overloaded as a result of too many appliances being connected to it.
Problem with wiring:
The wiring of your electrical appliances needs to be top notch if they are to keep performing at a high level. The wiring can sometimes become loose which can cause flickering issues with your ceiling fan lights.
Old wires can also be the reason why your ceiling fan lights might be flickering.
Is a flickering ceiling fan light dangerous?
A flickering ceiling fan light can be caused by many things. The type of cause can often decide whether a flickering ceiling fan light is dangerous or not. A ceiling fan light that is flickering due to old bulbs or loose bulbs is not considered as dangerous.
However, the ceiling fan light can sometimes start flickering when the electrical circuits become overloaded due to too many appliances. This phenomena is considered as dangerous as it has the potential to cause a fire accident.
Flickering ceiling fan light that is caused by loose wiring is also labeled as dangerous. So a flickering ceiling fan light should not always be taken lightly.
Why does my ceiling fan light flicker and then turns off?
The ceiling fan and its light feature often come with a pre-installed current or wattage limiter. When you use higher wattage light bulbs in your ceiling fan light kit, the lights flicker after being turned on and then finally turn off.
This problem can be solved by using low wattage light bulbs.
You can also try to bypass the wattage limiter by making adjustments in the connection box. This will enable you to use high wattage light bulbs without worrying about the wattage limit and flickering issue.
Why does my ceiling fan light flicker once when turned on?
Your ceiling fan light might flicker only one time upon being turned on. This problem is often caused by loose light bulbs. Your light bulbs can become loose because of the continuous spin done by the fan blades.
Another cause of this can be inaccurate installation of the light bulbs. You can try to install your light bulbs accurately to get rid of this issue. You will need to make sure that the light bulbs are firmly in place.
Why does my ceiling fan light flicker on and off?
There are many reasons why your ceiling fan light might be flickering on and off. First of all, you will need to check if the light bulbs are in place. You will need to screw in the light bulbs properly if there seems to be a loose connection.
If the flickering issue does not solve after that, you will need to replace the old light bulbs with new ones.
If your new light bulbs also keep flickering on and off, then you can try to replace the switch. If the flickering does not solve even after trying all these methods, then the problem lies within the electrical circuit and wiring of your house.
You will need to contact an electrician to do a thorough check up of your electrical circuit and wiring system.
How to fix flickering light in ceiling fan?
Fixing the flickering issue of ceiling fan lights might seem like a daunting task if you have no prior experience. But there are steps you can follow to solve the issue of flickering light in ceiling fans. Let’s discuss in detail about some of them.
Change the bulbs:
If you are using fluorescent light bulbs, you might face the issue of flickering lights more. Because they are more prone to flicker because of their weak adaptability to temperature change.
You should replace your fluorescent bulbs with LED bulbs to solve the issue of flickering light in ceiling fans. Incandescent light bulbs can also be used in place of fluorescent bulbs.
If you are already using incandescent or LED bulbs, the problem of flickering light still remains. Then you will need to change the current set of bulbs with new ones as the old age of the current ones might be the reason behind the flickering light in the ceiling fan.
Change the switch:
The switch used to control the ceiling fan lights can become faulty due to many reasons. When the switch becomes faulty, it is not able to control the power flow to the ceiling fan lights which causes flickering issues.
You will need to check the switch for loose wiring and replace it with a new one if the current one can not be repaired.
Replace the fixture:
The old light fixture of your ceiling fan has to be replaced when it is the reason behind the flickering lights. Replacing the light fixture requires a certain amount of experience and should be done bg a certified electrician.
Add a circuit:
An overloaded circuit can often cause flickering light in ceiling fans. You can hire an electrician to add a new circuit in your house. This newly added circuit will decrease the load on the current circuits and solve the flickering issue.
Inspect the wiring:
The wiring of your house can often be the reason behind flickering lights in ceiling fans. The wiring of the house should be inspected by a professional to find out the exact problem.
The loose or faulty wires should be replaced with new ones to solve the issue of flickering ceiling fan lights.
Replace the current limiter:
The purpose of the current limiter is to stop your light bulbs from overheating. When the current limiter becomes faulty, it can cause flickering issues in ceiling fan lights. The current limiter needs to be replaced with a new one to solve the problem of flickering.
You can also try using light bulbs with low wattage to keep your current limiter in good shape.
Final Thoughts
Flickering in ceiling fan lights can turn into a dangerous issue if it is not solved in time. Flickering ceiling fan lights often indicate that the electrical circuits might be overloaded. Flickering issue of ceiling fan lights should be inspected by an electrician.