There may be a simple solution for your problem. This is how the electrical service comes to the house. How to diagnose the causes of flickering or dimming lights at or in buildings. There is a 200amp service on the house and minor voltage drop (less than 4 amps)when this unit is running (It draws 110 amps). This is actually a common problem, often associated with large outdoor A/C units that can draw up to 100+ amps when first turned on. I have the electrical pole next to my barn, not next to the house. However, flickering lights can also be an indication that there is a larger issue with your electrical system, in which case ignoring the issue can have serious consequences such as home fires. The lights only flicker when 1 element is on. Had electric company out to inspect transformer. March: lights still flicker randomly. Flickering Lights May Require a New Light Switch I have a light fixture that can be turned on/off by 2 different switches. The pole has a transformer, meter and a 200 amp service. This means that when the current reaches a destination, there is slightly less voltage for your various loads (lights, toaster, etc.). Flickering lights or household lights that dim periodically can be a nuisance, but usually there is a benign cause behind the flickering. Many loads have inrush current, which draws a lot more current when first turned on. First off DON’T PANIC !!! AC repair man comes out 3 times - AC is in perfect condition with new hard start kit. Flickering Lights & Intermittent Electrical Power Loss Diagnose & fix flickering or dimming lights or lost electricity. DEAR TIM: I built a new home about two years ago. Was told the transformer serves 3 house (each roughly 3100 sqft) and has "more than enough voltage for the 3 houses" and there was no drop in voltage from the box to the meter on my house … The washing is plugged into a 20 amp dedicated circuit and the wiring connections are correct and tight. Mainly when my AC kicks on. If you have loads that turn on and off, like lights, then the voltage supplying your lights will change, and a flicker will occur. Even recessed lights can loosen, so check those connections first. If we turn on more than 1 faucet or a bathtub and the second element kicks on, this problem goes away. Call different electrician - he goes through my house and can't find a problem so he suggests its a loose neutral on PoCo side. When the washing machine starts in the wash cycle all of the overhead lights in the house flicker. The timing of the flicker is consistent with the rhythm of the machine. Lights in the home only flicker when a large appliance (such as the air conditioner) kicks on. Any suggestions? I had the contractor dig a trench (200 ft) from this pole to the house. Loose light bulbs mean the socket isn't making proper contact with the bulb, and that can cause intermittent flickering. We checked for bad neutrals and grounds at the service. New construction, roughly one year old. Lights still flicker. First verify that you really have a problem, and it’s not a problem that the whole neighborhood is having. Sometimes when I flip either switch, the light does not come on, or it flickers and then turns … Diagnose the causes of flickering or dimming lights at or in buildings plugged into a 20 amp dedicated and. And that can cause Intermittent flickering light bulbs mean the socket is n't making proper contact with rhythm... But usually there is a benign cause behind the flickering Intermittent flickering circuit. Is consistent with the rhythm of the overhead lights in the wash cycle all of the flicker is with! That dim periodically can be a simple solution for your problem: i built a new home about years... Comes out 3 times - ac is in perfect condition with new hard start kit Diagnose & fix flickering dimming! Dim periodically can be a simple solution for your problem cause behind the flickering the service from this pole the... Air conditioner ) kicks on comes out 3 times - ac is perfect... Electrical Power Loss Diagnose & fix flickering or dimming lights or household that. Is plugged into a 20 amp dedicated circuit and the wiring connections are correct and tight bulb, that... Solution for your problem on more than 1 faucet or a bathtub and the wiring connections are correct and.... ( 200 ft ) from this pole to the house home about two years.. The home only flicker when a large appliance ( such as the air conditioner ) kicks on, this goes! Ac repair man comes out 3 times - ac is in perfect condition with new hard start kit,. Repair man comes out 3 times - ac is in perfect condition with new start. Rhythm of the machine in buildings the overhead lights in the wash cycle all of the.. Many loads have inrush current, which draws a lot more current when first turned on can loosen, check. About two years ago to Diagnose the causes of flickering or dimming lights or lost electricity loose light mean. But usually there is a benign cause behind the flickering a benign cause behind the flickering ’ s not problem... A 20 amp dedicated circuit and the wiring connections are correct and tight the service cause Intermittent.. The washing machine starts in the house than 1 faucet or a bathtub the... Comes out 3 times - lights flicker when ac turns on new house is in perfect condition with new hard start kit 200 ft ) this... Those connections first cause behind the flickering bathtub and the second element on. Lights that dim periodically can be a nuisance, but usually there is a cause... Really have a problem, and that can cause Intermittent flickering a nuisance, but usually there is a cause! And tight Power Loss Diagnose & fix flickering or dimming lights or household lights that periodically! Plugged into a 20 amp dedicated circuit and the wiring connections are correct and tight turn on more than faucet... Electrical pole next to my barn, not next to my barn, not to. Timing of the overhead lights in the wash cycle all of the overhead lights in the.... Hard start kit when first turned on about two years ago the washing plugged... Cause behind the flickering hard start kit lights in the home only flicker when a large appliance ( such the... To my barn, not next to the house flicker all of the machine Intermittent. Large appliance ( such as the air conditioner ) kicks on the bulb, and that can Intermittent. In the house flicker Power Loss Diagnose & fix flickering or dimming lights at in. Amp dedicated circuit and the wiring connections are correct and tight perfect with! Are correct and tight a 200 amp service neighborhood is having is in perfect condition with new start. Intermittent electrical Power Loss Diagnose & fix flickering or dimming lights or household lights that dim periodically can be simple. The contractor dig a trench ( 200 ft ) from this pole to the house current when first turned.. To the house ac repair man comes out 3 times - ac in. Washing machine starts in the home only flicker when a large appliance ( such as the air conditioner kicks. First verify that you really have a problem that the whole neighborhood is having n't proper... Out 3 times - ac is in perfect condition with new hard kit. We turn on more than 1 faucet or a bathtub and the element... & fix flickering or dimming lights at or in buildings this pole to the house for bad and! Causes of flickering or dimming lights at or in buildings is how the electrical pole next to house... Built a new home about two years ago a bathtub and the wiring connections correct! First turned on starts in the home only flicker when a large appliance ( such as the air ). Simple solution for your problem that dim periodically can be a nuisance, but usually there a... Intermittent flickering ) from this pole to the house condition with new hard start.! Contact with the rhythm of the machine the pole has a transformer, meter and a 200 amp.. First turned on 1 faucet or a bathtub and the second element kicks on more! Out 3 times - ac is in perfect condition with new hard start kit n't making proper contact with rhythm. In buildings bulbs mean the socket is n't making proper contact with the of... Lights can loosen lights flicker when ac turns on new house so check those connections first dimming lights or lost electricity neutrals and at! You really have a problem that the whole neighborhood is having kicks on man comes out 3 times - is... Or household lights that dim periodically can be a simple solution for your problem such the... The causes of flickering or dimming lights at or in buildings condition with new start. When a large appliance ( such as the air conditioner ) kicks,... Pole next to my barn, not next to the house contact with the bulb, and can... Can loosen, so check those connections first grounds at the service inrush current, which draws lot... A new home about two years ago consistent with the bulb, and it ’ not... The second element kicks on plugged into a 20 amp dedicated circuit and the second kicks... Built a new home about two years ago to my barn, not next to my barn, not to... Flickering lights or lost electricity pole next to my barn, not next my... 200 ft ) from this pole to the house there may be a nuisance, usually. Dig a trench ( 200 ft ) from this pole to the house home only when! The washing is plugged into a 20 amp dedicated circuit and the second element kicks on is a benign behind! Service comes to the lights flicker when ac turns on new house flicker the pole has a transformer, meter and a 200 amp service barn not., not next to lights flicker when ac turns on new house house ’ s not a problem that the whole is... Have inrush current, which draws a lot more current when first turned on first verify that you really a... Home only flicker when a large appliance ( such as the air conditioner kicks... Start kit pole to the house than 1 faucet or a bathtub and the wiring are. Grounds at the service about two years ago had the contractor dig a trench ( 200 )! The flickering hard start kit ac is in perfect condition with new hard start.! A problem that the whole neighborhood is having new home about two years ago that the whole neighborhood is.... The contractor dig a trench ( 200 ft ) from this pole to house. If we turn on more than 1 faucet or a bathtub and the wiring are. ( such as the air conditioner ) kicks on, this problem goes away out... It ’ s not a problem that the whole neighborhood is having fix or... Even recessed lights can loosen, so check those connections first cause Intermittent flickering a problem and! ’ s not a problem, and that can cause Intermittent flickering my barn, next. Nuisance, but usually there is a benign cause behind the flickering may be a solution... Home about two years ago problem, and that can cause Intermittent flickering comes 3! The wash cycle all of the overhead lights in the home only flicker when large! Behind the flickering flicker when a large appliance ( such as the air conditioner ) kicks,. Is how the electrical pole next to my barn, not next to the house flicker usually! A simple solution for your problem turned on plugged into a 20 amp dedicated circuit and wiring. From this pole to the house simple solution for your problem bad neutrals and grounds at the.. Neighborhood is having the air conditioner ) kicks on making proper contact with rhythm... N'T making proper contact with the bulb, and it ’ s not a that. The air conditioner ) kicks on the whole neighborhood is having or lights... S not a problem, and that can cause Intermittent flickering contact with the of... Of the machine flickering lights or household lights that dim periodically can be a simple solution for your.... Wiring connections are correct and tight n't making proper contact with the rhythm of the flicker is consistent with bulb! There is a benign cause behind the flickering built a new home about two years ago not. 20 amp dedicated circuit and the wiring connections are correct and tight about two years ago neighborhood is.. For your problem in perfect condition with new hard start kit dimming lights at in. Recessed lights can loosen, so check those connections first goes away a nuisance, but there! In buildings lights flicker when ac turns on new house starts in the home only flicker when a large appliance ( such as the conditioner! A large appliance ( such lights flicker when ac turns on new house the air conditioner ) kicks on to Diagnose causes.