Why do my lights flicker?
Occasional flicker when a big appliance starts (AC, dryer) is usually normal — a brief voltage dip. Lights that flicker constantly, in one room, or across the whole house are a connection problem until proven otherwise: a loose wire, a failing breaker, or a deteriorating service connection. Whole-house flicker is the one to take seriously — a loose service connection can arc and overheat.
Likely causes
- Failing bulb or LED driver — One flickering fixture is almost always the bulb or its driver, not your wiring.
- Loose connection — A loose wire nut, outlet, or switch connection in one room — flicker that changes when you tap the switch.
- Overloaded circuit — Flicker synced with a space heater, microwave, or hair dryer on the same circuit.
- Service or panel problem — Whole-house flicker, worse in wind or weather — utility connection or main panel. This one is a fire risk.
What you can check yourself
- Narrow it down: one bulb, one room, or the whole house? The pattern is most of the diagnosis.
- Swap the bulb first if it's a single fixture — cheap certainty.
- Note whether flicker syncs with an appliance starting, and tell the electrician — it saves troubleshooting time.
Typical cost
An electrician's troubleshooting visit in Boston, MA typically runs $150–$350. Loose-connection repairs $150–$400; panel-level repairs cost more and should come with a written scope.
When to call a pro
Whole-house flickering, flicker plus buzzing or a burning smell at the panel, or lights that brighten as others dim — call an electrician promptly, and mention 'possible lost neutral'; they'll understand the urgency.
Electrician pros in Boston, MA
- Sylvia Electrical Contracting · 6 Liberty Sq #2185, Boston, MA · 9785356661
- Bennett Electrical · 55 Fruit St, Boston, MA · (617) 248-9479
- Asidaco LLC · 75 Arlington St Ste 500, Boston, MA · 6174241544
- Mike MacEwan · 198 Tremont St, Boston, MA · 6176888171
- Electric Hero · 529 Main St, Boston, MA · 6178860255
- John P McHugh Electric · 456 Main St, Boston, MA · 6173207703
- Mount Auburn Electric Inc · 8 Warren St, Cambridge, MA · 16178687734
- Colman Electric · 351 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA · 16178764000
Get free quotes from Boston, MA pros →
Data by Servik — verified local pros from official license records and public sources. Cost figures are typical ranges, not quotes; a pro's written estimate is the real number.