Every so often I see the lights in the house flickering and pulsating. Is this a fire hazard?

Answer 1

naw, thats just poltergeists? but I would get a electrician to look at it or the electric company?

Answer 2

There could be loose wiring. It would be best to consult an electrician in order to be certain your house is safe. If it happens not to be, you could be risking a dangerous fire. Also, if you live in an older section of your town or city, your house may be connected to an old section of grid. Flickering lights are a good indication that your current is fluctuating. Again, an electrician can test that for you with a meter that measures the consistency of the current flow into your home. I once worked in an office which had regular fluctuating current problems that not only made the lights flicker, it adversely affected our computers and other office equipment too. We called an electrician and were advised that it was occurring because the infrastructure of the neighborhood was more than 40 years old and needed to be upgraded. If that's the case, there's little you can do until the city makes an upgrade except install battery back-ups and surge suppressors for your expensive electronic equipment.

Answer 3

It sounds like you aren't getting enough power into the house to supply all the needs. If the house is old you may need to change the electric power entrance box, the fuse box. It may not have enough circuits for all the power you use in the home with TVs computers lights and furnaces.etc. I would ask a man that is into this stuff, your dad or someone that would know. It may be old wiring...this would really be the most dangerous, if the house is old. The ampage would just cause the circuit breaker to go off. but old wiring can cause a fire. Depends on how old the house is. There is another problem it might be. Are you on the end of a street? Or near the end. If so ask your neighbors after you towards the farther end if thy have this problem. If so, the electric Company needs to put in a bigger something or other...can't think of the name. It's what always causes the elec. to go out during storms. Any how we had that exact problem and they had to put in a newer one in the neighborhood....transformer that's it!! To take care of the houses on the street. So, call them and have them check out their area and then if they can't find a problem, they will tell you if you have a problem outside if they find it, then see what happens. It may just be that or their wiring is corroding on the pole.

Answer 4

Your problem is related to some appliance in your home puling an amperage overload. I would suggest that, if you have a heat pump, and this happens year round, that you have a "Start capacitor" added to the circuitry of the outdoor unit. A start capacitor takes the heavy starting load amperage draw away and the lights normally don't flicker after it is installed.This will cause the scenario that you have described. Do not call your power company, since this is an internal problem and they do not diagnose problems with owners property. Most likely, it will be a problem with an electrical appliance, and being a serviceman, it is normally the outdoor unit of an A/C or Heat Pump.
Although, consider the age of your home and the wiring capacity.
Older homes were not wired for all of the new appliances that are installed in homes and rewiring is required to make the home safe.

Answer 5

It's possible. But it could just be that the circuits are overloaded (lots of electrical devices plugged in, appliances in use). It also depends on what type of system you have. If you have a really old house, your wiring may need to be updated. Out-of-date wiring can be a fire hazard.

Answer 6

Remove your breaker panel.
Turn your breakers off one at a time and tighten the screw where the wire is going in to it.
Perform this on every breaker and see if this will do the trick.

Next would be the main wires coming into the breaker panel but you have to turn off the power at the meter before attempting this.

Answer 7

this will occur if the outside does not have a ground rod or ground cable from breaker box is loose.yes,this is dangerous and must be addressed.also,now a days we have a lot of power surges that will also do this.that is caused by electric companies switching generators and can destroy your electronics.i use good quality surge protectors everywhere that i buy from Lowe's or the depot.

Answer 8

Sounds like something is wrong with your electrical wires. This is definitely a fire hazzard. Have an electrician take a look at it sometime soon.

Answer 9

I had this problem one time...I called the electric company and they came to the house and replaced the electrical wire from the telephone pole to the house. If you live close to salt water, I guess the connection at the post can corrode up. It didn't cost me anything for them to replace the wire to my house.

Answer 10

Check and make sure the light bulb hasn't loosened in the socket.