When the lights flicker in your office, your team will get distracted and might get headaches. This causes productivity to decline. Frequent flickering can also lead to higher energy bills and eventually to dimmer bulbs.
Some of the causes can even be a warning sign for a significant electrical problem that requires quick action. Understanding the causes of flickering office lights will help you determine the best way to solve the problem.
Top Causes of Flickering Office Lights and How to Fix Them
Whether you’ve just started noticing your office lights flickering or you’ve been ignoring the problem for a while, it’s important to investigate the situation and take action. While there are several reasons office lights might flicker, some of them are relatively quick and easy to fix.
Others, however, require professional attention. Here are the most common reasons why lights in a commercial building flicker and what you can do about them.
A Faulty Bulb or Tube
The lightbulb or tube must be secure in the socket to function properly. If the bulb or tube wasn’t installed properly or has slowly adjusted over time, it might simply need to be screwed into place.
You might also notice that a light flickers when the bulb is approaching the end of its life. You should suspect these issues if your problem is isolated to a single fixture. A faulty fixture should also be considered if the bulb or tube is in good condition. Often, faulty fixtures need to be replaced rather than repaired.
Loose Connections
If the electrical wiring connected to the fixture is loose, the energy supply can cut off randomly for short periods of time. Depending on where the loose connection is, this could impact one, several, or all of your office’s lights. Faulty connections and wiring could cause an electrical fire or electrocution, so they should only be replaced by a licensed electrician.
A Circuit Issue
Electrical circuits can manage a limited load. If your team is drawing more energy than a circuit can handle through their office equipment and devices, the lights could flicker. Possible solutions are to distribute power consumption more evenly across the circuits or to install more circuits to meet your office’s needs.
Electromagnetic Interference
Electromagnetic devices can interfere with the flow of electricity through the wires and to the lights. If you notice flickering while specific devices in the vicinity are being used, this should be considered a possible cause. Using shielded wiring can reduce electromagnetic interference with your office lights.
Dimmer Switches
While dimmer switches are commonly used in office buildings, they can sometimes be the cause of the lights flickering in your office. For example, older dimmer switches aren’t designed for use with LED bulbs. Simply updating the dimmer switches with LED compatible switches will resolve the problem. Older dimmer switches may be damaged by wear and tear, which creates an inconsistent flow of electricity to the lights.
A Power Supply Fluctuation
While many issues with lighting are tied to problems inside the building, the external power source could also cause the lights to flicker. This can often be due to inconsistent voltage entering the building. Your electrician can address this problem by installing a voltage regulator or stabilizer.
Schedule Service with Sarasota Mister Sparky Today
Flickering lights impact your business activities and can even be the sign of a serious hazard. While it might initially seem to be nothing more than annoyance, it requires prompt attention.
At Sarasota Mister Sparky, our experienced electricians are available to diagnosis and fix your lights right away. Don’t put up with any malarky, call Mister Sparky! Call us for service today.
