We've all been there - dealing with that one electrical issue in your home that just won't go away no matter what you try. I've had a strange electrical gremlin in my bedroom causing lights to flicker randomly for months now. It's been incredibly frustrating trying to track down the root cause and fix it for good.
After months of trial and error, I've finally got it resolved. Here's my guide to help you troubleshoot and fix that annoying electrical gremlin that's been tormenting you!
Identifying the Issue
The first step is pinpointing exactly what the electrical issue is and when it occurs.
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Make notes about any patterns you notice. Does the problem happen at specific times of day? With certain appliances turned on? Is it isolated to just one room?
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Recreate the issue. If the lights flicker when you turn on the bathroom fan, test turning that on and off a few times to induce the problem.
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Check all outlets and lights in the affected rooms. Does the issue impact just one outlet or light, or multiple?
Thoroughly documenting the specifics of the electrical gremlin will help narrow down root causes. In my case, it only happened at night with a bedroom light and outlet.
Testing the Circuitry
Next, do some checks to test the electrical circuitry in the room:
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Shut off power and remove cover plates to inspect all outlets and switches. Check for signs of loose, damaged, or burnt wires.
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Turn circuit breakers on and off to see if problem persists. Test outlets and lights after each switch.
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For flickering lights, try replacing bulbs with new ones to rule out a dying bulb issue.
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Use a voltage tester to check for adequate power flow to outlets/lights on the circuit.
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Listen and feel for vibration near outlets when the issue occurs, indicating arcing or loose wiring.
Meticulously testing each component on the circuit can often reveal the culprit. I discovered flickering and dimming when I turned on a bathroom exhaust fan, pointing to a wiring or switch issue.
Checking Connections
With the likely problem area identified, now examine connections along that circuit more closely:
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Turn off power and remove outlet/switch cover plates to inspect wires. Check for loose, corroded, or damaged connections.
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Tighten any loose wire connections and replace damaged wires. Corroded wires may need sanding to remove corrosion before reconnecting tightly.
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Check the load on outlets and switches causing issues. Overloaded circuits can cause flickering or dimming lights. Consider relocating devices to other circuits to reduce load if needed.
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Inspect behind wall switch and outlet boxes for any damaged wires, taking care not to touch any live wires.
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Examine the circuit breaker for the problem circuit. If corroded or overly warm, it may need replacement.
Carefully checking all junction points and connections often reveals the sneaky electrical gremlin. I found a very loose neutral wire connection in a junction box that was likely arcing and intermittently cutting power.
Identifying and Replacing Bad Wiring
If you've tested everything else and the electrical issue persists, you may have a segment of bad wiring that needs replacement:
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Turn off power and remove suspect sections of wiring to test them. Check for continuity or use a multimeter to measure resistance. Damaged wiring may have very high resistance or no continuity.
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Replace any wiring that tests as defective. Use wiring of the same gauge or larger when replacing.
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If you can't access wiring easily, an electrical contractor can use a thermal imaging camera to identify hot spots on wires indicating damage.
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For flickering lights, the problem may be old aluminum wiring that needs to be replaced with copper wire of the proper gauge.
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With major rewiring needed, consider upgrading the electrical panel and circuits for added capacity and safety.
In my case, a small section of fried wiring buried in the wall with no accessible junction box was the culprit gremlin. I had an electrician replace it to finally banish the flickering light!
Preventative Care
To avoid electrical gremlins in the future, some periodic preventative care goes a long way:
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Check connections on outlets, switches and junction boxes regularly to ensure they are tight and corrosion-free.
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Listen for crackling sounds near outlets that may indicate arcing wires that need to be repaired.
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Consider replacing older wiring, especially deteriorated cloth-insulated wiring or small-gauge aluminum wiring.
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Use surge protectors to protect circuits from power surges than can damage wiring and electronics.
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Upgrade to AFCI outlets that shut off automatically if arcing is detected, preventing fires.
With vigilance about the condition of your electrical systems, you can keep those pesky electrical gremlins at bay!
In Closing
Dealing with strange and intermittent electrical issues can be endlessly frustrating. But methodically troubleshooting the circuitry, checking connections, and replacing any damaged wiring can help identify and banish that annoying electrical gremlin for good. Just stay patient and persistent - you'll get it fixed eventually!