You’re sitting at home and the lights flicker.
Maybe it happens once.
Maybe they dim whenever a particular appliance starts.
Or perhaps several lights throughout the house have suddenly started behaving strangely.
It’s easy to dismiss flickering lights as nothing more than an annoying bulb, but the cause isn’t always the light itself.
Sometimes the problem is relatively simple. Other times, flickering or dimming can be one of the first visible signs that something is happening elsewhere in the electrical system.
The important part is recognising the difference.
One Flickering Light Is Very Different From a Whole House Flickering
When an electrician investigates flickering lights, one of the first clues is where the problem is happening.
A single LED downlight behaving strangely may point towards the lamp, driver, fitting or compatibility with a dimmer.
If several lights on the same circuit are affected, the problem may be further back in the circuit.
If lights across different parts of the house begin dimming or flickering at the same time, that changes the picture again.
Energex specifically warns that dull or flickering lights can occur with inconsistent electricity supply, low voltage or partial supply and advises customers experiencing these conditions not to touch their switchboard or metal objects in the home.
In other words, the pattern matters.
Why Do LED Lights Flicker?
LED lighting has become standard in Australian homes, but an LED light is more sophisticated than an old incandescent globe.
LED lights rely on electronic components to control the electricity supplied to the LEDs.
That introduces several possible sources of flicker.
Australian Government energy-efficiency guidance notes that noticeable LED flickering can be associated with a poor-quality product, incorrect installation or incompatibility between the lamp and a dimmer.
This is particularly relevant in homes where old dimmers have been retained after the lighting was converted to LEDs.
A dimmer that worked perfectly with older lighting technology may not necessarily work correctly with every LED product.
Symptoms can include:
- flickering at particular brightness levels
- lights that refuse to dim smoothly
- buzzing
- lights that briefly flash
- LEDs that remain faintly illuminated when switched off
Rather than continually replacing bulbs, it can be worth having the lighting circuit and controls assessed properly.
Why Do My Lights Dim When the Air Conditioner Turns On?
This is another common complaint.
A homeowner notices that the lights briefly dip when an air conditioner, pump or another appliance starts operating.
Electrical equipment can draw different amounts of current as it starts and operates, so the cause needs to be assessed in the context of the particular installation.
The important distinction is between an occasional, very brief change and new, pronounced or repeated dimming.
If the behaviour has suddenly appeared, is becoming worse or affects several areas of the house, it shouldn’t simply be written off as “the appliance using lots of power”.
There may be an issue within the property or with the electricity supply that needs investigation.
What If the Flickering Happens Throughout the House?
This deserves more attention.
When multiple rooms or unrelated circuits are affected simultaneously, the problem is less likely to be one defective light fitting.
Possible causes can exist within the home’s electrical installation or on the electricity network.
That is why trying to diagnose widespread flickering by changing globes one at a time can completely miss the real issue.
Energex classifies flickering lights associated with inconsistent supply as something that should be reported immediately.
If you are experiencing widespread flickering, dull lights, partial power or other unusual supply behaviour, follow Energex’s current safety guidance rather than opening or investigating the switchboard yourself.
What About a Light That Buzzes?
Electrical lighting should not suddenly develop unexplained noises and simply be ignored.
Buzzing can sometimes be associated with lighting components, dimming equipment or compatibility issues.
What matters is whether the sound is coming from the lamp itself, a fitting, a dimmer, a switch or elsewhere.
That’s particularly important if the buzzing is accompanied by:
- flickering
- intermittent operation
- unusual heat
- a burning smell
- discolouration
- switches behaving differently
- breakers operating unexpectedly
Electrical work in Queensland should not be treated as a DIY troubleshooting exercise. The Electrical Safety Office specifically advises homeowners to use a licensed electrician rather than attempting electrical repairs themselves.
Don’t Ignore a Problem Because the Lights Still Work
Electrical problems aren’t always binary.
Something doesn’t have to stop working completely before there is a reason to investigate it.
A light can still illuminate while behaving differently from the way it has for the previous five years.
That change is useful information.
The same principle applies to power points, switches, appliances and circuit breakers.
If something electrical suddenly starts behaving differently, there is usually a reason.
The question is whether that reason is a failing light, a compatibility issue, a circuit problem, an installation issue or something affecting the electricity supply.
A Useful Test: What Changed?
Without touching electrical wiring or opening equipment, think about when the problem started.
Did you recently:
- replace old lights with LEDs?
- install a new dimmer?
- have an appliance installed?
- notice the problem after a storm?
- start experiencing flickering in more than one room?
- notice lights becoming brighter or duller than normal?
- begin experiencing other electrical symptoms at the same time?
Those observations can give an electrician valuable clues when diagnosing the problem.
When Should You Call an Electrician?
If one replaceable lamp has reached the end of its life, replacing the lamp may resolve the problem.
But if flickering keeps returning, affects several fittings, occurs with switches or dimmers, or appears alongside other unusual electrical behaviour, it is worth having the system inspected.
The goal isn’t simply to stop the light flickering.
It is to understand why it is flickering in the first place.
Power Bolt Electrical can investigate lighting faults, dimmer and LED compatibility issues, circuit problems and other electrical faults throughout your home.
If your lights have started flickering, dimming, buzzing or behaving differently, don’t keep guessing at the cause.
Get Power Bolt Electrical to find out what the electrical system is trying to tell you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my LED lights flickering?
LED lights can flicker for several reasons, including a failing lamp or driver, poor installation, dimmer incompatibility or an issue elsewhere in the lighting circuit.
Why do my lights dim when the air conditioner turns on?
Some electrical equipment draws additional current when starting. Brief changes may occur in some installations, but new, pronounced or repeated dimming should be investigated by a licensed electrician.
Should I worry if lights are flickering throughout the house?
Flickering across multiple rooms or unrelated circuits can indicate an issue beyond a single light fitting. The cause may be within the home's electrical installation or electricity supply and should be investigated.
Can an old dimmer make LED lights flicker?
Yes. Some dimmers designed for older lighting technologies are not compatible with certain LED lamps and drivers, which can cause flickering, buzzing or poor dimming performance.
When should I call an electrician about flickering lights?
Call a licensed electrician if the flickering keeps returning, affects multiple lights, occurs with buzzing or unusual heat, affects several rooms, or appears alongside other unusual electrical behaviour.