Why Your Ceiling Light Is Dim (Fixed)

When a ceiling light stops functioning properly, it can make it difficult to walk around in the room.

You won’t be able to see and that’s a serious concern during the night. It can also take away from the room’s aesthetic.

So, what do you do then?

You have to start by figuring out why the ceiling light is dim.

A ceiling light can become dim when the light bulb is fading, one of the wires is loose, and/or the circuit is overloaded. To fix the issue, change the light bulb, turn off the power supply, remove the ceiling light cover, and tighten the wiring. If it’s still not working, check to see if the circuit is overloaded with multiple lights.

An overloaded circuit is a major reason for a ceiling light being dim.

There won’t be enough electricity going to the ceiling light causing it to become dimmer. If you reduce the load on the circuit, the light will begin to work at 100% again.

This guide will explain why a ceiling light is dim and what to do about it moving forward.

Best Dimmer For Ceiling Light (EDITOR’S CHOICE)

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Steps To Follow If Your Ceiling Light Is Dim

1. Change the Bulb

Sometimes, a dim ceiling light is caused due to a malfunctioning light bulb.

This means the bulb is starting to die or it’s not connected properly.

If that is the case, you will want to start here and try to change the light bulb. Make sure the new light bulb is connected properly once it’s set up.

This will allow you to determine whether or not the light bulb was the reason for your ceiling light becoming dimmer.

This is key if the lights are dimming in one room.

ceiling light is dim

2. Turn Off The Power

Let’s assume you changed the ceiling light’s bulb and it still doesn’t work at 100%.

What are you going to do then?

You will have a few options but the first step is to turn off the power to the ceiling light. This will allow you to work on fixing the ceiling light without getting electrocuted.

Please note that taking precautions is a must when you are working on the electrical circuit. This includes outlets, ceiling lights, and light switches.

Anything that is linked to the circuit has to be handled with care.

Turn off the main power and then begin working on fixing the dim ceiling light.

3. Remove The Ceiling Light Cover

If the light is dim when turned on, this means you might have an issue under the ceiling light cover.

This cover is going to vary depending on the type of ceiling light set up in your room.

Look for the screws and take off the light.

This will reveal a set of wires that were connected to the ceiling light. You will want to begin to access them and take a deeper look at what’s going on behind the cover.

4. Check And Tighten The Wiring

If a ceiling light is suddenly dim, you might have a problem with the connected wiring.

This wiring goes directly to the ceiling light and it has to be securely installed. If not, the ceiling light is either going to flicker or become dimmer.

The best course of action is to keep checking the wiring for fraying or any other type of damage.

This will allow you to see what’s working and what’s not.

If you don’t tighten the wiring, you might have an issue where any other change won’t work.

Always go through each wire and check to see if it’s loose and/or damaged.

ceiling light is dim

5. Reduce Load On The Circuit

The last step is to see if there’s an excessive load on the circuit.

A ceiling light might become noticeably dimmer when you turn on another fixture in the same room.

This means the ceiling light is dealing with an overloaded circuit.

As a result, there’s limited power going to the ceiling light even when it’s turned on and fully functional.

The best solution is to remove unwanted electrical devices or fixtures to make the ceiling light brighter again.

Final Thoughts

These are the steps to follow if your ceiling light is dim.

If a ceiling light is dim, this means the circuit is overloaded, the bulb needs to be changed, and/or the wiring is loose. To fix the issue, turn off the power supply, change the bulb, remove the cover, and tighten the wiring. If necessary, cut down on the load connected to this shared circuit.

If you do all of these steps, the ceiling light will begin to work as you want it to.

Read More About Lights:

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  2. How To Fix Ceiling Light In The Wrong Spot
  3. Contrasting Flat And Vaulted Ceilings
  4. Steps For Fixing Water Bubbles In Ceilings
  5. How To Block Neighbor’s Bright Lights
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  7. Causes For Light Fixture Not Working Properly
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  9. Why Does Ceiling Light Always Remain On?