7 Signs Your Lamp Needs Rewiring

Warm or discolored plugs, a cord that crackles when moved, a bulb that flickers when you touch the shade, a burning smell, visible copper, cloth insulation that flakes, and breakers that trip when the lamp is switched on. Any one of these means stop using the lamp until it is serviced.

What we see on the bench

Nearly every lamp that comes through our Thornton shop tells the same story in a different way: the object outlived its wiring. Cord insulation dries out, socket contacts flatten, switch springs weaken, and the failure shows up as flicker long before it shows up as a dead lamp. Catching it at the flicker stage keeps a repair small.

When to call a professional

Stop using any lamp that smells hot, trips a breaker, or has visible copper. If the fixture is hardwired, mounted overhead, or older than 1960, have it inspected rather than patched. We give free estimates and will tell you when a repair is not worth the money.

Ask us about your lamp →