One flickering light is usually a bulb or a fixture. Lights flickering all over the house is different — it points to a problem with the circuit, the panel, or the service coming into the home, and it should not be ignored.
What to notice
- Do the lights flicker when a large appliance — washer, dryer, air conditioner — starts up? That can mean the circuit or service is strained.
- Do they flicker in every room, or only on one circuit? Whole-house flickering is more serious.
- Is there any burning smell, buzzing at the panel, or a warm or discolored outlet? If so, treat it as urgent.
What not to do
Do not keep swapping bulbs and hoping it stops, and do not open the panel if anything smells hot or looks damaged. Loose connections can overheat and are a fire risk.
Whole-house flickering is a job for a licensed electrician, who can check connections, the panel, and the service. McLeod Electric — Master Electrician #A 12769, Hanson, MA. Call (781) 447-6040. Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Emergencies, call anytime.
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