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Common Problems With Dimmer Switches

Are the dimmer switches in your property not working correctly? Perhaps you hear buzzing or see flickering lights. Or maybe they don’t work at all. Fortunately, this is usually an easy fix. Here are the most common problems with dimmer switches that we see at Bolt Electric with our clients in New York City, from single-family homes to large apartment complexes. This can help you fix the problem or explain it to your electrician when you contact them for service.

Wear and Tear

Switches past their lifespan

Dimmer switches aren’t meant to last forever, although many property owners certainly get a good decade or two out of them. One key to getting dimmer switches that last a long time is to select the highest quality models you can afford. Cheap switches are the number one cause of breakdowns, with voltage surges being the second.

If you notice the following, it could be time to replace a dimmer switch:

• Flickering lights
• Dimmer switch doesn’t work
• Light output reduced
• Buzzing sound
• Switch hot to the touch

However, it’s possible these things could also be signs of other problems, so be sure to read on to help isolate the cause. If you believe voltage spikes may be responsible (frequent lightning strikes, power line problems, trouble with appliances, etc.), it’s time to call the experts for help.

Loose Wiring

A potential fire risk

Dimmers can be warm when you touch them, but they should never feel hot. As well as chronic overlamping (see below), this can be due to loose wires somewhere in the connection. You may have had your circuit breaker tripped after a dimmer switch gets extremely hot, too.

The danger with this scenario is that hot wires could be transferring heat to other structural components nearby, like walls or plastic lighting parts. This can start a fire, so discontinue use of the switch and call a licensed electrician right away to have it checked.

Overlamping

Too much wattage to control

Unlike with occasional power surges, continuous overlamping puts a constant demand for excess wattage on a dimmer switch. For example, if you purchase a dimmer switch that is designed to control 300 watts, but you have it managing five fixtures of 100 watts each, you are creating an overlamping situation.

As well as generating too much heat for the switch, overlamping can also result in a buzzing noise. An easy test if you don’t know how much wattage the switch is meant to handle is to remove several bulbs connected to the dimmer and see if the situation is resolved.

Wrong Switch for the Room’s Configuration

Understanding which switch you need

When installing dimmer switches, you must select the right switch for the number of terminals in the room. For example, a single-pole switch is easy; one switch controls one fixture. You simply replace the toggle switch with a dimmer version.

What about if two switches control one fixture? It gets a little trickier. You can’t have two dimmer switches in this situation because they could conflict with each other. In this case, you need what’s called a “master” and “slave” switch. You can also do this in rooms with more than two switches.

Incorrect Dimmer-Bulb Match

Dimmable vs. non-dimmable bulbs

Not every light bulb is meant to be dimmed. In cases where a completely non-dimmable bulb is used, the switch won’t work at all. You may notice this right after changing light bulbs.

Some bulbs are technically dimmable but won’t work with your switch. In this instance, you’ll likely see the dimmer switch not dimming the lights all the way. It’s usually worth trying other bulbs to see if that fixes the problem.

LED Compatibility Issues

Special LED requirements

We recommend that our clients in New York City switch over to LED bulbs for energy efficiency and cost savings. However, LED bulbs can pose some compatibility concerns when installing dimmer switches. When purchasing LED bulbs, the dimming range must be correct for use with your light controls. Signs that your LED bulbs aren’t right for dimmer switches include:

• Flashing lights when you turn the dimmer on
• Flickering or pulsing bulbs
• Strobing of light bulbs
• Pop-on (bulbs going instantly to a super bright setting)
• Drop-out (bulbs go dark before reaching the lowest dimmer setting)
• Ghosting (bulbs continue to glow when dimmer is turned all the way down)
• Unresponsive bulbs to dimmer controls (aka “dead travel”)

Incorrect Installation

DIY frustrations

As easy as it may seem to install dimmer switches, it’s not a job that’s within everyone’s wheelhouse. It’s possible that your dimmer switch problem is stemming from improper installation.

We see this most often with high-end dimmers that give you multiple brightness settings, programmability, and other sophisticated functions. These dimmer switches need to be installed in the correct setting and done exactly as per the manufacturer’s instructions. Their use may require changes to your wiring system prior to installation. A clue that this is the case is when your breaker keeps tripping every time you attempt to use the switch.

This is why we encourage property owners to consult with a professional electrician if they meet any of these criteria:

• Are new to doing any electrical work on the property, even things that seem simple
• Are unfamiliar with how dimmer switches work
• Have problems with other dimmers or electrical switches on the property
• Own older properties, especially pre-war apartments or brownstones
• Aren’t sure if their wiring or switch configuration is right for the dimmers they desire to use

Are you not comfortable installing dimmer switches on your property? Do you have a complicated setup that requires expert help? Bolt Electric is happy to come out and give you a hand.

We’ll make sure you have the right components to accomplish what you want with your dimmers. We’ll also check your wiring if necessary for safety reasons. We can assist you with the selection of switches and install them so you can just enjoy them when we’re done.

Call Bolt Electric today at 212-434-0098 or schedule an appointment using our online form.