Why are my Lights Flickering?

Flickering lights can be caused by loose connections, overloaded circuits, voltage fluctuations, failing globes or dimmer switches. In some cases, they signal a serious wiring fault or neutral issue that needs urgent electrical inspection.

All About Flickering Lights

A flickering light might seem like a minor annoyance but sometimes it’s the first sign of a serious fault.

Whether it’s a single downlight, an entire room dimming when the kettle boils, or LEDs dimming, flickering lights are telling you something’s wrong.
At Electrx, we are Beacon Preferred electricians and we install a LOT of lights!
We are regularly called to homes in Werribee, Tarneit, Altona and Hoppers Crossing to diagnose this exact issue. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Common Causes of Flickering Lights

Loose connections

A poor connection at a light fitting, switch or junction point can cause an intermittent power supply, leading to visible flickering.

Failing globes

Old or low-quality LED globes often flicker as they near end of life—or when installed on incompatible dimmer switches.

Over loaded circuits

Using too many appliances on one circuit (like in a kitchen) can cause lights on that circuit to LED’s to dim or flicker when other devices start up.

Faulty dimmer switches

Not all dimmers work well with LEDs. If you’ve upgraded bulbs but kept an old dimmer, they may not be compatible.

Voltage fluctuations

If your lights dim when the heater starts or flicker when the fridge cycles, you may have unstable voltage supply or an issue with the neutral conductor.

2. When Flickering Means Trouble

Occasional flickering is harmless. But there are warning signs that it’s more serious:

• Multiple rooms flicker at the same time
• Lights get brighter then dim again
• Buzzing sounds at the switchboard or lights
• Other appliances are affected
• You smell burning or see discolouration around fittings

These symptoms can indicate a fault which poses a fire risk or an electrical accident.

3. What You Can Check

• Try a new bulb: If the flicker is isolated to one light, replace the globe with a high-quality LED.
• Test without dimmers: Remove or bypass dimmers temporarily to see if the flicker stops.
• Switch off major appliances: If flicker reduces when heavy-load devices are off, you may have load imbalance or undersized circuits.

If the flickering persists or affects more than one room, it’s time to get help.
Our Electrical Fault Finding team can trace the issue fast.

4. What We Do

When we’re called to investigate flickering lights, we don’t guess, we test.
Our service includes:

• Load and voltage testing at each circuit
• Switchboard inspection for loose terminals or ageing breakers
• Neutral connection integrity checks
• Compatibility checks for dimmers and LED drivers
• Circuit separation if appliances are overloading shared wiring
• Thermal imaging if required to detect hot spots or faults in hidden cables

If your switchboard is outdated, we may recommend a Switchboard Upgrade for stability and safety.

5. Flickering Lights in New Builds or Renovations

Even newer homes can have this issue especially if lighting was installed using cheap fittings or the circuits weren’t properly balanced.

We’ve seen flickers caused by:

• Poor-quality LED drivers
• Shared light and power circuits
• Cheap “smart” dimmers installed without load matching
• Electricians using halogen-rated dimmers with LED retrofits

A site inspection can uncover whether it’s a fitting issue or a deeper wiring problem.

FAQs

Why do my lights flicker when the washing machine runs?
This usually means your circuit is overloaded or your voltage supply drops under load. We can test and rebalance the circuit.

Is flickering dangerous?
Sometimes. If it affects multiple rooms or gets worse, it could mean a loose or damaged connection, which is a fire risk.

Can you fix this without rewiring the whole house?
Yes. In most cases, we only need to fix or separate specific circuits, or replace faulty fittings and switches.

Can dimmers cause flickering?
Yes, especially older dimmers used with LED globes. We can install compatible dimmers or rewire for full LED control

Final Thoughts

Flickering lights aren’t just frustrating they’re telling you something. In some homes, it’s a quick fix. In others, it’s the start of a serious fault.
As Beacon Preferred electricians, we’ll find the fault and fix it and make sure your lighting is safe, stable, and worry-free.