Lights that flicker now and then are easy to ignore. Sometimes that is fine. Sometimes flicker is the first sign of a connection that is heating up inside a wall. Here is how to tell the difference.
1. A loose or failing bulb
If one lamp flickers, start with the bulb. Tighten it, or swap it with a known good one. Cheap LED bulbs often flicker as they fail.
2. An incompatible dimmer
LED bulbs on an old incandescent dimmer commonly flicker, buzz or shimmer at low levels. The cure is an LED-rated dimmer, which is a quick job. See switch and dimmer installation.
3. A large appliance starting
A brief dip when the furnace blower, air conditioner or well pump starts is normal in small doses. If the lights dim noticeably every time, the circuit or the service may be undersized, and it is worth having the panel looked at.
4. A loose connection on one circuit
Flicker confined to one room or one circuit often traces to a loose wire at a switch, an outlet or a fixture. Loose connections arc and generate heat. This is a job for electrical repair sooner, not later.
5. A problem in the panel
A failing breaker or a corroded connection on the bus can make several circuits flicker. You may hear crackling at the panel. Stay clear of it and call an electrician.
6. A loose neutral
This is the urgent one. If lights throughout the house flicker, or some get brighter while others dim, the neutral connection at the panel, the meter or the utility line may be failing. Voltages can swing high enough to destroy electronics and start fires. Turn off sensitive equipment and call our emergency electrician line right away. If the fault is on the utility side, we will tell you and help you report it.
Getting it diagnosed
Tell the electrician when the flicker happens, which rooms are affected and what else was running. Those details shorten the search considerably. Our electrical troubleshooting service covers every part of Michigan we serve.