As a new homeowner in a house built in the 50s, I've been dealing with flickering lights and I'm unsure if it's just my house's issue or the electric company's problem. For instance, when I use the microwave, the kitchen light flickers, and it's the same for outlets in the living room. This also happens when I run my dryer or garbage disposal. Should I reach out to the power company or contact an electrician first? I'm also curious about potential repair costs.
3 Answers
It sounds like you might have loose connections at your circuit breaker or on some outlets, or possibly faulty circuit breakers. There might even be an issue with your electrical service itself, like an undersized transformer from the power company. I’d recommend starting by calling your power company to check things on their side first. If they can’t resolve it, an electrician will be your next call to trace the root cause.
I've experienced similar issues, and it turned out to be a lost neutral wire from the transformer! The power company ran a temporary fix and later a permanent one. It’s definitely worth having someone check it out for you.
What country are you in? If you're in the US, you’re likely dealing with 110v or 240v issues. It’s best to get in touch with an electrician because it sounds like you might have a neutral wire issue—these can be tricky and impact the safety of your home.