Why Are My Lights Flickering?

Failing Light Switches: A “spongey” switch, or one that doesn’t click into place well, is often going to lead to flickering lights. Sometimes it may turn on fine, other times you may have to play with it a little, or it may not want to stay on. These things happen because the spring holding the switch weakens over time. If that happens, replacing the switch should fix the problem.

Non-LED Compatible Dimmer Switches: One thing you could be dealing with is a match between an LED bulb and a dimmer switch. You might need to play around with the switch to find “the sweet spot” to get it to stop flickering. If this is happening to you, it's a good idea to start by making sure you have a dimmable LED. Then swap the dimmer switch to match it and you should be good to go.

Loose Bulbs Or Failing Sockets: There are two points on the inside of a light bulb socket. One that connects to the outside metal threading and one that connects to the center of the screw stem. If either point gets corroded, it can’t make a good connection. In that situation, replacing the socket should fix the problem. Sometimes the bulb is a little loose, though, and tightening it is enough.

Loose Or Corroded Wires At The Circuit Breaker: Small screws in your breaker panel hold the circuit wires in place. If they got loose or corroded, they might not be making a good connection. That inconsistency could be what’s causing the flickering lights. Loose connections like that can cause arcing and fires, so it's vital for an electrician to tighten them.