The Mystery of the Flickering Lights
If a light is flickering, it’s most likely something simple. Here’s a quick way to narrow it down.
Start here
- Is it just ONE bulb? Swap the bulb first.
- Is it on a dimmer? Some dimmers aren’t LED-rated, and some LED bulbs/lights aren’t dimmable. Check the bulb or fixture; it should be labeled somewhere.
- Is it just ONE room? Try a different switch position a few times. A worn switch can act up.
- If it’s a lamp, try a different outlet.
- If it’s a fixture, see if it flickers when big stuff turns on (microwave, vacuum, fridge cycling). That can point to a loose connection or an overloaded circuit.
- Sometimes it could be a switched outlet, either the switch is becoming worn out, or the outlet could be loose from continuous use.
What the flicker tells you
- Fast strobe or shimmer: usually bulb/dimmer compatibility
- Slow pulse: sometimes a driver in an LED fixture, or something cycling on that circuit
- One quick blink when something starts: normal-ish voltage dip, but it’s a clue about what shares that circuit
If it’s multiple lights across the house, or it’s getting worse over time, that’s a good sign it’s worth having someone take a look.
More mysteries: the Dead Outlets | the Breaker That Won’t Stay On | Aluminum Wiring
Still stumped? Call or text and we’ll figure it out.
(720) 339-2016 | info@ilgelectric.com