What To Do With a Flickering Fan Light?

Wiring Connection

• If your ceiling fan light flickers when you turn it on or off via the light switch or remote control, you may have a wiring issue. Check the wiring connections at the ceiling and wall controls to ensure that the wires are not twisted, which can sometimes cause a disconnection. Additionally, inspect the box near the base of the ceiling fan unit to determine if the receiver is defective.

Light Bulb

• Using compact florescent light bulbs can also cause fan lights to flicker. The fan’s rotating blades produce strong vibration, which affects the electronics in the CFL bulb. As a result, the disruptive movement causes the CFL to flicker or fail completely. Utility companies offer special CFL bulbs that can be used in fan lights and other vibrating devices. Moreover, the University of Florida states that add-on lights for ceiling fans are often only compatible with fixtures of the same brand. Double-check manufacturer specifications to ensure that your lights will work with your fan.

Light Fixture

• When the bottom of the light bulb and base of the fan’s light socket are not touching, flickering may result. Unscrew the fan’s light bulb to see if it has been screwed on too tightly or loosely to the ceiling fixture. Inspect the bottom of the light bulb to see whether the solder — the silver portion on the center of the base — looks worn or deformed. Light bulbs can start to malfunction when the brass tab at the fixture’s base fails to make electrical contact with the solder on the light bulb. Adjust the brass tab on the bottom of the fan’s light socket so that is at an approximately 20-degree angle and can reach the solder.

Warnings

• Turn off the power to the lights before you attempt repairs on the fan’s light fixture or wiring system. Leaving the power on can pose serious safety hazards. This is especially true if you are using tools such as pliers or screwdrivers to repair or adjust components inside the light socket. National syndicated newspaper columnist Tim Carter recommends turning off the circuit breaker as an added precaution.