Are you wondering why your lights flicker when air conditioner comes on? Well, there are about three reasons why this situation in your home happens. First, your AC needs a boost to start, and they need all the power they can get, which sometimes affects the quality of your lights.
Like your AC, you also need to gather enough strength to do something such as getting out of your bed every morning. Or when you’re trying to carry a gallon of water. In which you need to take a break to prepare for a boost.
Don’t panic when your lights flicker slightly since those are normal sometimes. However, there are times when the problem is inside your unit. And that’s what we are going to find out all about it. So, let’s go!
Reasons Why Turning On Your AC Affects The Lights
Absorbing the required power is not the only reason why your lights flicker. However, there are still plenty of reasons to explain and fix this.
When your lights still flicker even though it’s been a couple of minutes since you turned on the air conditioner, there might be an electrical problem. Your lights should not dim entirely and lose their brightness.
So, you need to examine your AC components to find out if there are any dents or tears. But, before that, here is the list of possible reasons why your lights flicker when air conditioner comes on.
Reason #1. Defective AC capacitor
Your capacitor is responsible for giving other AC components the power to start and operate. It’s also the one that provides the ability to begin your unit.
On the other hand, it also stores the energy or electricity needed to operate your AC. So, we can say that when your lights flicker whenever you start your air conditioner. That is because your capacitor stored some of the excess electricity gathered from the bulbs.
What will happen if it’s too weak or it’s not working correctly? Your unit and its components will not receive enough power to start, or they will absorb the electricity from the lights and other home appliances.
How to fix this:
Severe damages would make your capacitor unfixable, which means that there’s no way to fix it other than replacing it. Replace it with a new capacitor that suits your unit. Or a capacitor similar to the old one.
However, if you’re not familiar with this equipment, you should bring your AC to a repair company and have a technician mend it.
Reason #2. Too much load on your circuit
This situation usually happens when you’re living in a home about 30 years old or more. These homes could not give enough power supply to all of their modern appliances, especially your AC.
With this, your AC will share its circuit with other electrical equipment such as the lights.
So, it’s one of the reasons why your lights flicker because they have a limited power supply. And they need to share, but your AC needs more power, and it’s trying to get all the electricity from your lights.
If a buzzing wire sound accompanies the flickering, it’s a sign that your circuit is overloaded. And this situation is dangerous if not fixed immediately. It could even cause electric shocks, powercut, or fires.
How to fix this:
The first step is to turn off and disconnect all appliances and wires connected to the overloaded circuit. This action will prevent any further damage to you and your home.
Next, call in a professional and let him examine your circuits and wiring. You can also have him check your AC and ask for the best solution. He will most likely advise you to provide a separate course for your AC since it will need all the power due to its complex technology.
Reason #3. Tears on wires
There might be tears in the wires, which could prevent the flow of electricity from traveling towards your lights. When you switch on, it absorbs energy from the lighting and, together with the inadequate flow, it causes your lights to flicker and fade.
This reason is not greatly dangerous compared to the overloaded circuit, but you still have to take immediate action. The wires might be exposed and can cause an electric shock to your kids or other people in your home.
How to fix this:
We suggest that you call an electrician to inspect all the wiring and electrical appliances. They can also fix the charred wires and eventually replace them to prevent any future problems.
Lights Still Flickering When AC Is Off
If your lights still flicker even if your AC is off, there might be other issues on your wiring and outlets that do not concern your AC. However, poor insulation might cause some low voltage in electricity. Or the wiring is dirty and unreliable, or there might be an incoming storm.
Or there might be a low voltage power supply going on in your areas. There might be a problem in the power plant or power supply department, so you should contact them for clarification.
Wrapping Up
And those are the reasons why your lights flicker when air conditioner comes on. All of these are unsafe conditions, and you should contact an electrician or AC technician immediately.
Taking immediate action can prevent expanding the damage and making it more severe or hazardous. So, protect your home by having someone certified fix this. Best of luck!