# Why do my lights flicker?

> One flickering fixture is usually a bulb, switch or connection. Lights that dim with the AC or swell house-wide point to a bigger problem. What to do.

Canonical page: https://hotshotelectrical.com/answers/why-do-my-lights-flicker/

Hot Shot Electric Service Co. is a family-owned electrical contractor in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, founded August 1, 1995. Oklahoma Electrical Contractor License #26574, bonded and insured. BBB A+ accredited. Rated 4.9 stars across 246 Google reviews. Address 9203 S 241st E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74014. Phone (918) 261-8024. Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday. Urgent problems (no power, a burning smell, a hot panel, storm damage) are worked the same day during business hours. Calls after hours go to voicemail and are returned first thing the next business morning.

**Short answer:** One flickering fixture usually means a loose bulb, a failing switch or dimmer, or a loose connection. Lights that dim when the AC or a big appliance starts suggest a heavily loaded circuit or service. Lights all over the house getting brighter and dimmer can mean a loose neutral, which needs prompt attention.

Flicker is a symptom, and where it shows up tells you a lot about the cause.

## One fixture

- A bulb that is loose or failing
- An LED bulb on a dimmer it is not compatible with
- A worn switch or dimmer
- A loose connection in the fixture box

Start with a new bulb rated for the fixture and, if it is on a dimmer, a dimmable one. If the flicker stays, it is likely the switch or the connection.

## One room or one circuit

Several lights on the same circuit flickering together points to a connection somewhere along that circuit, often a backstabbed outlet or switch upstream. Those connections loosen over years and make heat. It deserves a check.

## When the AC or a big appliance starts

A brief dim when a large motor starts can be normal. A deep or long dim suggests a heavily loaded circuit, a weak connection in the panel, or a service that is undersized for what the house runs now.

**Whole house getting brighter and dimmer** Unplug sensitive electronics and call. Lights that swell brighter in some rooms while dimming in others can mean a loose or lost neutral, on the utility side or in your service, and it can damage appliances.

## After an outage or a storm

Flicker that starts after storm damage can come from the service drop, the meter base or the main connections. If it is on PSO's side, they fix it. [Here is how to tell who fixes what](https://hotshotelectrical.com/answers/who-fixes-what-pso-or-electrician/).

## How we track it down

A licensed journeyman tests voltage at the panel and at affected circuits, checks the neutral and grounding, opens the switches and outlets on the circuit, and looks at the panel connections. Intermittent problems are the hardest to catch, so it helps to note when it happens: what was running, the time of day and the weather. You get the cause and the price before any work starts.

## When flicker comes with other symptoms

- Flicker plus a warm switch plate: a loose connection at the switch
- Flicker plus a buzzing panel: a panel or breaker problem
- Flicker plus a burning smell: turn the circuit off and call
- Flicker only on one leg of the house with the AC dead: a [lost leg of power](https://hotshotelectrical.com/answers/partial-power-after-pso-outage/)

## LED bulbs on an older dimmer

Many dimmers installed for incandescent bulbs do not work well with LED bulbs, and flicker or buzzing at low settings is the usual sign. The fix is a dimmer rated for LED loads, or bulbs marked dimmable. It is a quick change, and it rules out the wiring before anyone opens a wall.

## What to note before you call

Write down which lights flicker, whether it happens when something specific starts (the AC, the dryer, the microwave), the time of day, and whether it began after a storm or an outage. Intermittent problems are the hardest to find, and a short log often points the journeyman straight to the cause.

## Frequently asked questions

### Is flickering dangerous?

One fixture usually is not. Flicker across a circuit or the whole house can mean heat at a connection or a neutral problem, which should be checked promptly.

### Why do my new LED bulbs flicker?

Often because they are on a dimmer that was made for incandescent bulbs. A compatible dimmer usually fixes it.

### Should I call PSO or you?

If neighbors are flickering too, call PSO. If it is just your house, call us.

## Related services

- [Electrical Troubleshooting and Repair in Tulsa, OK](https://hotshotelectrical.com/services/electrical-troubleshooting-repair.md)
- [Lighting Installation Broken Arrow OK](https://hotshotelectrical.com/lighting-installation.md)
- [Electrical Panel Upgrade and Replacement in Tulsa](https://hotshotelectrical.com/services/electrical-panel-upgrade.md)

## Contact

- Hot Shot Electric Service Co., 9203 S 241st E Ave, Broken Arrow, OK 74014
- Phone: (918) 261-8024
- Email: johnbrown@hotshotelectrical.com
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Closed Saturday and Sunday.
- Request service: https://hotshotelectrical.com/contact-us/