Licensed & Insured Electrical Contractors, REC 28054 Melbourne & Sydney · 0475 666 999
Home / Resources / Why Are My Lights Flickering?
Electrical Safety

Why Are My Lights Flickering?

Flickering lights are one of the most common electrical complaints, and the cause ranges from harmless to genuinely worth investigating.

Loose or ageing globes

A loose globe or a failing LED driver is the simplest explanation, and it's isolated to one light. Try re-seating or replacing the globe first.

Dimmer compatibility

Not all LED globes are compatible with older dimmer switches, which can cause flickering or buzzing. Swapping to LED-compatible dimmers usually fixes this.

A loose connection

If flickering affects a whole room or several lights at once, a loose connection at the switch, light fitting or switchboard is a likely cause, and this is a job for a licensed electrician rather than a DIY fix.

An overloaded circuit

Lights dimming briefly when a large appliance (like an air conditioner or oven) switches on can point to a circuit that's carrying more than it comfortably should.

When it's worth getting checked

Flickering that's widespread, gets worse over time, or comes with warm switch plates or a burning smell should be checked promptly rather than left.

Need this sorted by a licensed electrician?

Get a Free Quote
Related

More electrical guides

Why Do My Lights Buzz or Hum?

Read article →

LED vs Halogen vs CFL

Read article →

Why Does My Circuit Breaker Keep Tripping?

Read article →
Call Now Get a Quote
Chat with us