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    Cristy1's Avatar
    Cristy1 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #1

    Sep 9, 2013, 07:22 PM
    Lights in one room dimming after lightning storm
    Hello there. A couple months ago we had a pretty bad electrical storm. At one point there was a loud boom of thunder and our smoke detectors beeped a couple times and I felt a surge in my cell phone that I happened to have plugged in and holding in my hand at the time.

    A cable box in one of the upstairs bedrooms stopped working, however, everything else in the house seemed fine. I have noticed though the lights (overhead light and lamp) in that one room only, dimming and getting bright again pretty often after the storm (this never happened before but my husband kept telling me it was probably just a coincidence with two bad lightbulbs). Then yesterday the light stopped working all together... I went up today to replace the light bulb, but the light is working again.

    Obviously this is an issue, but do I call the power company to take a look outside or an electrical contractor to look inside? Is it even possible that it's something outside since it's only happening in the one room or does it seem like there is a short somewhere in that room caused by lightening possibly hitting the house?

    Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated... thank you!
    Pelusawoman's Avatar
    Pelusawoman Posts: 23, Reputation: 2
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    #2

    Sep 14, 2013, 06:40 PM
    Did you try replacing the bulb? It seems to me that you have one that is on it's last days. If you take it out and shake it around a little, then put it back, I'll bet it won't work.

    The odds that the storm caused the problem are nil.
    hfcarson's Avatar
    hfcarson Posts: 1,003, Reputation: 49
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    #3

    Sep 15, 2013, 05:17 AM
    For whatever reason, you have what sounds like a loose or failing splice or connection... recommend calling an electrician.
    Cristy1's Avatar
    Cristy1 Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
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    #4

    Sep 15, 2013, 07:51 PM
    Pelus, I have it limited now to just the overhead light/ceiling fan (I thought that the issue was also with an outlet where a lamp was plugged in, but it turns out the lamp wasn't plugged in correctly, so that's fine now). Anyway, I just tried changing the light bulb in the ceiling fan and it started making this light crackling sound. I obviously turned it off and will need to call an electrician.
    Pelusawoman's Avatar
    Pelusawoman Posts: 23, Reputation: 2
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    #5

    Sep 16, 2013, 12:37 PM
    Ah... well then, there are the gremlins that ruin fixtures. Sorry that it will cost you some, but at least you'll have your light again. Good luck.
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