Repair Tip of the Month – Why is my lamp flickering?
Flickering lamps are a common problem. While it could be due to a loose wire or a bad bulb, the most common cause is using the wrong type of bulb.
First, check the cord. If you wiggle the cord (usually where it plugs in or enters the lamp) and the light flickers, unplug the lamp and don’t use it until it’s fixed. This could mean there’s a bad connection in the wiring, which could be dangerous. Also, if the cord looks frayed or has exposed wires, the lamp shouldn’t be used until the cord is replaced.
If the cord appears to be in working order, it is likely the wrong type of bulb. The two most common reasons lights flicker are:
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- A bad LED bulb (older LED bulbs often flicker when they’re about to burn out).
- Using a non-dimmable LED bulb in a lamp with a dimmer. Why does this matter? An LED bulb has a circuit board inside it. Non-dimmable LED bulbs need a full 120 volts to work correctly. But when a dimmer is used, it lowers the voltage, which causes the bulb to flicker or not work properly.
If changing the light bulb doesn’t work, maybe one of our volunteer fixers can help you at the next Repair event!
Photo by Paul Peloquin