Electrical problem - help!!

Mrs7ones

Hi,
on our stairs and landing, we have a bank or 8 sunken lights (currently all fitted with energy saving bulbs) which can be switched on/off at either the bottom or top of the stairs.
Over the weekend, both of the switches have started making a buzzing/crackling noise when you switch on, and all the light flicker really badly. Obviously we have refrained from using the lights since this happened, and I am looking around for a reliable electrician in our area.

But in the meantime, I was wondering if anyone could offer an explanation as to what may be happening (and more importantly how much it might cost me to put right.....)

many thanks

ormus

are they dimmer switches?

WestonDave

Firstly I think you are right to proceed with an electrician because there are a number of possibilities which need checking.

That also makes it hard to hint at possibilities. If it were my house, I'd be checking the loft for water getting in - I'm guessing these lights go through into the loft in order to be "sunken" so given the wet and windy weather, and symptoms which suggest a poor connection somewhere, I'd want to check that out - but turn the power off first, and just check for wet, don't mess with the actual wiring unless you know what you are doing. That way at least if it is something as clear as that you can point the electrician in the right direction. Beyond that it could be the switches, it could be the light fittings, or it could be that the actual bulbs are faulty (taking them out and putting spare ones in might be a quick way of checking that out). As you see its probably easier (assuming its not something like the bulbs) to get a professional out to diagnose.

Mrs7ones

no, just the normal on/off switches.
could damp cause our problem?

WestonDave

Mrs7ones wrote: »

no, just the normal on/off switches.
could damp cause our problem?

Over time damp could cause contacts in a circuit to corrode/rust which might give rise to symptoms like those you describe.

Jim_Chem

Turn off the power and take the switches off and have a look to see if the connections are all good and tight. You say you have already checked the bulbs, but no harm trying to put in some new ones anyway.

if your not really too sure about what you should be doing tho, I would just call out an electrican. A good one will be able to find and sort out your problem nice and quickly!

Mrs7ones

yes the lights are sunken via the loft as you suggest.

We've checked for dodgy bulbs - no joy there.

We've also had the switched off the wall to check for loose wirese - and all seems well there.

I'll ask Hub to check for damp/a leak in the loft tonight - if it's as simple as that - how do we get the wireing to dry out? (once we have sorted to cause of the damp obviously).. Or will it need replacing?

fto

Could be a faulty switch arcing.Failing that take out one bulb at a time and see if it cures the problem.

Mrs7ones

fto wrote: »

Could be a faulty switch arcing.Failing that take out one bulb at a time and see if it cures the problem.

I don't know what a switch arcing is.....

We've done the thing with taking the bulbs out one at a time ....

fto

Its basically a faulty switch( the contacts on the switch are either dirty or corroded), but I have read your post again & you say its both switches.

Mrs7ones

fto wrote: »

Its basically a faulty switch( the contacts on the switch are either dirty or corroded), but I have read your post again & you say its both switches.

yes, it's both switches and they both make quite a noise and cause the lights to flicker