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Flickering or Dimming Lights?

A flicker can be as simple as a loose bulb, or a sign of a loose connection somewhere. Where it happens tells you a lot.

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What it usually means

Flickering and dimming lights are on safety groups’ lists of electrical warning signs (ESFi, NFPA), but not every flicker is serious. Start by noticing where and when it happens:

  • Just one lightOften a loose or worn-out bulb, an LED that doesn’t match the dimmer, a worn switch or dimmer, or a loose connection in that fixture.
  • Lights dip when something big startsA quick dip when the AC, a well pump or a microwave kicks on can happen as motors start. If the dip is big, lasts, or is getting worse, it can mean a loose connection, an overloaded circuit or a problem with your service.
  • One room or one circuitPoints to a loose connection at an outlet, switch or splice on that circuit. In some older homes with aluminum branch wiring, flickering lights are one of the signs CPSC lists (CPSC).
  • The whole house, or some lights brighter and others dimmerThis one is more serious. It can mean a loose connection at the service or panel, a lost neutral, or a problem on PG&E’s side. It can also damage electronics and appliances.

Safe for you to check

  • With the light off and the bulb cool, make sure the bulb is screwed in snugly. Try a new bulb.
  • On a dimmer, check that the bulbs are marked dimmable and that the dimmer is made for LED bulbs.
  • Notice the pattern: one light, one room, the whole house, or only when something big turns on. That helps us find it faster.
  • Ask a neighbor. If their lights flicker too, or the problem is house-wide, call PG&E at 1-877-660-6789 to report a voltage problem. PG&E can send a troubleman and may install a meter that records your voltage (PG&E).

Leave these alone

  • Don’t open fixtures, switch boxes or the panel to look for loose wires.
  • Don’t ignore flickering across the whole house or lights that get brighter than normal.
  • Don’t touch the meter or the wires coming to your house.
  • Don’t keep using a switch or dimmer that’s hot, crackles or smells.

How IES helps

  1. 1
    We trace it

    We check the fixture, switch or dimmer, then the circuit, the panel and the service connections until we find the loose or worn part.

  2. 2
    We fix it

    That can mean a new LED-compatible dimmer, repairing a loose splice or outlet, a dedicated circuit for a big appliance, or repairing the service connection.

  3. 3
    We work with PG&E

    If it’s on PG&E’s side, we’ll tell you. If your panel or service needs replacing, we handle the permit, the inspection and PG&E’s disconnect and reconnect. You just say yes.

Estimates are free. Call (530) 401-7419, answered 24/7, or use the form below.

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Common questions

Are flickering lights dangerous?

One flickering bulb usually isn’t. Flickering in a whole room or the whole house, or lights that dim and brighten, can point to a loose connection, which can get hot. That’s worth having an electrician check.

Why do my lights dim when the AC or well pump starts?

Motors pull a lot of current for a moment when they start, so a quick, small dip can happen. A big dip, one that lasts, or one that’s getting worse can mean a loose connection, an overloaded circuit or a service problem.

Why do my LED lights flicker on a dimmer?

Often the bulbs and the dimmer don’t match. Many older dimmers were made for incandescent bulbs. A dimmer made for LEDs, and bulbs marked dimmable, usually fixes it.

Should I call PG&E or an electrician about flickering?

If your neighbors see it too, or it’s the whole house, call PG&E at 1-877-660-6789 to report a voltage problem. If it’s one light, room or circuit, call an electrician. Not sure? Call us and we’ll help you figure it out.

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Related problems

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Sources

General safety information for homes, checked against the sources above in November 2026. Every home is different and this is not a substitute for an on-site look by a licensed electrician. Never work inside a panel, at the meter or on live wiring. In an emergency, call 911.