You are sitting in the lounge and the lights flicker.
A few minutes later, they do it again.
Is it just an LED bulb starting to fail? A dodgy dimmer? The air conditioner switching on?
Or is something happening with the electrical supply to your house?
Flickering lights are one of those electrical problems that can range from relatively minor to something that should be investigated quickly.
The important part is recognising the difference.
Quick Answer: Should I Worry About Flickering Lights?
If one light fitting occasionally flickers, the problem may be localised to the bulb, LED driver, dimmer, switch or fitting.
If multiple lights around the house flicker at the same time, particularly if appliances also cut out, restart or behave strangely, it can indicate a broader electrical supply problem.
Repeated or unexplained flickering should not simply be ignored.
For homeowners around Narangba, North Lakes, Burpengary, Griffin, Mango Hill, Morayfield and surrounding Moreton Bay suburbs, the first thing to work out is whether the problem is happening at one light, one circuit or across the whole house.
That tells us a lot.
1. One Light Keeps Flickering
Let’s start with the simpler scenario.
You have one downlight or pendant that flickers while everything else in the house works normally.
Possible causes can include:
- A failing LED globe
- A faulty LED driver
- An incompatible dimmer
- A loose connection
- A deteriorating light fitting
- A faulty switch
Modern LED lighting can make this slightly confusing because the electronics inside an LED fitting can fail in different ways.
It does not always simply stop working.
You might notice flickering, pulsing, delayed startup, reduced brightness or intermittent operation first.
If replacing a standard replaceable globe resolves the problem, it may simply have been the globe.
If the flickering continues, particularly with integrated LED fittings, switches or dimmers, it is worth having the circuit checked.
2. Several Lights on the Same Circuit Are Flickering
This changes the diagnosis.
If several lights start flickering together, the chances of several LED globes failing at exactly the same time are obviously much lower.
The problem may instead be somewhere shared between those lights.
That could include the lighting circuit itself, a connection, switchgear or another component supplying those fittings.
This is particularly worth investigating if the problem:
- Started suddenly
- Is becoming more frequent
- Happens in several rooms
- Appears when other electrical equipment operates
- Is accompanied by buzzing, unusual smells or heat
Don’t start pulling switches, fittings or the switchboard apart to investigate it yourself.
Electrical wiring work in Queensland needs to be carried out by a licensed electrician.
3. The Whole House Flickers When the Air Conditioner Starts
This is an interesting one because homeowners often notice flickering when a large appliance starts.
Air conditioners, pumps, compressors and some other equipment can draw significantly more current while starting than they use during normal operation.
You might occasionally notice a very brief change in lighting when a substantial electrical load starts.
But repeated, severe or newly developed dimming and flickering should not automatically be written off as normal.
There may be an issue with the electrical installation or electricity supply that needs investigation.
If your lights suddenly started reacting every time the air conditioner, oven or another large appliance operates, that pattern is useful information for an electrician.
Tell them.
Electrical faults that happen intermittently are much easier to investigate when we know what seems to trigger them.
4. Lights Are Flickering Throughout the Entire House
This is the scenario to take more seriously.
If lights across multiple areas of the house begin flickering together, the problem may extend beyond an individual light or circuit.
You might also notice:
- Lights becoming unusually bright or dim
- Appliances briefly switching off
- The television restarting
- Your modem rebooting
- Air conditioning stopping momentarily
- Clocks resetting
- Power dropping out for a fraction of a second
At this point, the problem could potentially involve the electrical installation or the electricity network supplying the property.
That distinction matters.
A licensed electrician can inspect the customer-side electrical installation, while Energex is responsible for its electricity distribution network.
Is Flickering Power an Energex Problem or an Electrician Problem?
Sometimes that is not immediately obvious.
And judging by the number of homeowners asking exactly this question online, it causes plenty of confusion.
A useful starting point is the scale of the problem.
One light flickering?
Start with the light itself.
Several lights on one circuit?
There may be a circuit or electrical installation issue worth having inspected.
The entire house flickering?
It could involve the property’s electrical installation or the incoming electricity supply.
Energex specifically classifies dull or flickering lights, brownouts, low voltage and partial electricity supply as inconsistent power.
If you are experiencing that type of problem throughout your home, follow Energex’s safety advice rather than opening the switchboard and trying to diagnose the supply yourself.
Why Intermittent Electrical Problems Can Be Frustrating
There’s another reason flickering lights generate so many questions.
They often stop when someone comes to investigate them.
Everything behaves perfectly.
Then that evening:
Flicker.
This is where patterns become extremely useful.
If your lights are intermittently flickering, take note of:
- The time it happens
- Which rooms are affected
- Whether every light flickers together
- Whether appliances also lose power
- Whether the air conditioner was starting
- Whether an oven, dryer or other large appliance was operating
- Whether the weather was windy or stormy
- How long the problem lasts
You can even record a short video if the problem is visible.
That information may help narrow down what is happening even if everything behaves normally while the electrician is standing in your house.
Don’t Ignore Other Warning Signs
Flickering becomes more concerning when it appears alongside other electrical symptoms.
Contact a licensed electrician if you notice things such as:
- Repeated circuit breaker or safety switch tripping
- Buzzing or crackling from switches or power points
- Burning smells
- Discolouration around electrical fittings
- Hot power points or switches
- Lights changing brightness unexpectedly
- Appliances repeatedly losing power
- Electrical equipment behaving unusually
If something smells like it is burning, is visibly damaged or appears unsafe, stop using it.
What If My Lights Flicker During Storms?
Storms add another variable.
Strong weather can affect the electricity network, and interruptions or supply problems can result in flickering or temporary loss of power.
This is also why yesterday’s discussion about surge protection matters.
A flicker might look harmless from inside the house, but repeated voltage disturbances are not something you want sensitive electronics continually experiencing.
Computers, televisions, networking equipment, smart-home devices and the electronic control boards inside modern appliances all depend on a reasonably stable electricity supply.
Should I Replace My Switchboard Because My Lights Flicker?
Not automatically.
Flickering lights are a symptom, not a diagnosis.
The cause needs to be identified first.
Depending on the property, the issue might involve something as simple as a light fitting or dimmer, or something elsewhere in the electrical installation or supply.
That is why proper fault finding matters.
Replacing equipment without establishing the cause can become an expensive way of discovering that the problem was somewhere else.
Flickering Lights in Your Moreton Bay Home?
If one light has started flickering, keep an eye on whether the problem remains isolated to that fitting.
If multiple lights, circuits or appliances are being affected, don’t simply assume it is “just the LEDs”.
Power Bolt Electrical can investigate intermittent electrical problems and check the electrical installation to help determine where the fault is occurring.
We service Narangba, North Lakes, Burpengary, Burpengary East, Mango Hill, Griffin, Morayfield, Caboolture and surrounding Moreton Bay suburbs.
Lights Flickering and Can’t Work Out Why?
Give Power Bolt Electrical a call.
The more information you can give us about when it happens, what equipment is running and which parts of the house are affected, the easier it is to start narrowing down the problem.
Sometimes the smallest electrical symptom is the clue that tells us where to look.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I worry if my lights are flickering?
If one light occasionally flickers, the issue may be localised to the globe, LED driver, dimmer, switch or fitting. If multiple lights around the home flicker together, particularly if appliances also restart or lose power, it may indicate a broader electrical installation or supply issue that should be investigated.
Why does only one light in my house keep flickering?
A single flickering light may be caused by a failing LED globe, faulty LED driver, incompatible dimmer, loose connection, deteriorating fitting or faulty switch. If replacing a standard globe does not resolve the problem, a licensed electrician can inspect the fitting and circuit.
Why do my lights flicker when the air conditioner starts?
Large appliances such as air conditioners can draw more current when starting. A very brief change in lighting may occasionally be noticeable, but repeated, severe or newly developed flickering should not automatically be considered normal. An electrician can investigate whether there is an issue with the electrical installation or supply.
What does it mean if lights throughout my whole house are flickering?
Whole-house flickering may indicate a problem beyond an individual light or circuit. If lights across several areas flicker together, or appliances also cut out, restart or behave unusually, the issue may involve the electrical installation or incoming electricity supply and should be investigated.
Are flickering lights an Energex problem or an electrician problem?
It depends on where the fault is occurring. A licensed electrician can inspect the electrical installation within the property, while Energex is responsible for its electricity distribution network. Whole-house flickering, low voltage or partial supply can sometimes indicate a network issue.
When should I call an electrician about flickering lights?
Contact a licensed electrician if flickering is repeated, affects multiple lights or circuits, occurs when appliances operate, or is accompanied by tripping, buzzing, crackling, burning smells, hot switches, discolouration or appliances repeatedly losing power.