Faulty Downlights

1) What is wrong with my downlights in my Liverpool home?

If you suspect that you have FAULTY DOWNLIGHTS  then you really need to call and electrician to come and investigate this for you. There are a number of issues that can occur with downlights and if you have tried changing the bulbs (electricians call them lamps because we are difficult 😊) and that has made no difference then it is likely that the transformers need swapping or the power supply to the lights needs investigating. Bothe of these jobs are best carried out by a qualified electrician. 

2) My downlights flicker is this bad?

Well, it isn’t good, is it? There are a number of reasons that your downlights could be flickering:

• Electrical supply issue to the lights from the consumer unit / fuse board
• Transformer or drive on its way out
• Incompatible Dimming switch
• Damaged wiring
• Loose connections
• Ghosts. (Only Kidding)

If you find that you have flickering downlights this is a symptom of something else that is occurring and, in some cases, it may be a warning that something more sinister is afoot.

3) Can I do anything myself to sort this?

There are only ever a few basic checks you can do to investigate electrical problems. The rest of the time we always recommend that you have an electrician come and investigate the issues for you. We are experienced and knowledgeable in this field and regularly teach the wiring regulations to electricians along with inspection and testing. 

The wiring regulations is a near enough 600-page book of technical information, rules and regulations and complying with these is not for the faint hearted. They are there to keep everyone safe and your average DIY enthusiast has no idea of the technical aspect of electrical work and the need for specialist testing on circuits to ensure safety. 

Always call us if you have problems. We will always try to offer free, helpful advice if it is safe to do so. 

4) I am worried about the downlights can you check them?

We are happy to come and check part or all of your wiring system in your home for you especially if you suspect you have FAULTY DOWNLIGHTS. Use our contact form or give us a call for a quotation for this. We can check that the wiring is correctly earthed back to the consumer unit, the resistances on the circuit comply with the regulations for safety. 

5) What are some common problems with downlighters?

There are a number of problems that we see with downlighters on a regular basis. These can range right from installation problems and issues that have arisen from that over time to issues with the equipment itself failing due to wear and tear, age or again, installation. 

Some common issues we see are:

• Failed transformers
• Failed LED drivers
• Failed lamps / bulbs
• Poor wiring connections
• Crushed wiring connections
• Earths missing from the circuit due to bad installation
• Insulation covering lights causing burning / fire risk
• Wiring exposed outside of enclosures giving rise to electric shock risk
• Installation to a standard other than that of the manufacturer’s instructions
• Rusted downlights from a bathroom environment.

These issues are the most common that we tend to come across and there are nearly always solutions to these problems that we can offer our customers. The photograph shows a burnt cable caused by poor installation of the downlight. Fortunately, in this case the consumer unit detected that there was an issue and cut the power to the circuit but this would not happen in every case and would likely result in a fire.

6) Can you replace the downlighters for me?

Absolutely. We are happy to quote for the replacement of downlighters anywhere in your home. We regularly carry out this type of electrical work and use a few different high-quality brands of downlight that we have confidence in. 

There are many different colours of downlight these days so they can match in with almost any décor and if you decide to change the décor in the future then we can make suggestions about the lighting to future proof them for you. 

7) Can you replace just one failed downlight for me?

Yes, we can. There may be a noticeable difference in the new light and the old though so make sure you are happy with a possible discrepancy between the aesthetic of the old and new and also the possible difference in colour of light given out once fitted. 

Sometimes we are able to rescue an old downlight depending on what has gone wrong with it. It will cost you our minimum charge for us to come and investigate the problem then depending on the cause of failure we may have a conversation with you followed by a quote or we may be able to sort the issue there and then without further cost. 

8) What if there are problems?

Very occasionally there are bigger issues that have cause a downlight or set of downlights to fail and in these cases once we have completed our investigation, we will have a conversation with you and show you any photographs that we have taken. We will go over any problems with you and explain why we think our recommended course of action is the best one. 

You have no obligation to us beyond our initial investigation and once you have our estimate or quote you can decide whether or not to go ahead with it. The most important thing to us is that we leave your FAULTY DOWNLIGHTS in no worse condition than when we arrived and we will make every effort to leave you in a safe position with everything working.  

9) Do you carry spare downlights?

No not normally. We carry many spare parts such as sockets, light switches, basic lights, pendant lights and so forth but not downlights. We carry enough stock that we can always repair a problem without having to leave you and visit a wholesaler. This saves you and us time and money. 

When it comes to downlights, there are a vast array of light fittings on the market to choose from and we could never manage to stock them all. Most fittings can be received within 24 to 48 hours and fitted quickly if you are in a hurry. 

Don’t hesitate to call us today! We can get out quickly if you need us to and get your property safe again.