When are flickering lights an electrical emergency?

The CPSC lists arcs and sparks, sizzles and buzzes, overheating, and the odor of burned or overheated wires among its warnings of potential electrical hazards, along with dim or flickering lights.^[1] The pattern matters more than the flicker itself.

Signs that make it an emergency

Treat the situation as urgent if flickering comes with any of these:

• Sparks or flashes. Arcing or sparking is the electrical fault that starts fires. The CPSC says arcing or sparking can occur anywhere in the service equipment that carries power from the electric company's lines to your panel.^[1]
• A burning or hot-insulation smell. The CPSC lists the odor of burned or overheated wires among its warning signs.^[1]
• Buzzing or sizzling. The CPSC lists unusual sounds from the electrical system among its warnings.^[1]
• Heat or discoloration. The CPSC says switch plates, receptacle outlet covers, cords and plugs may be warm but should never be hot, painful to touch or discolored from heat.^[1] Unusually warm outlets or switches may indicate a loose electrical connection that can start a fire, and the CPSC says to stop using them until an electrician checks the problem.^[2]
• Any shock. The CPSC says any shock, even a mild tingle, may be a warning of danger.^[1]

Electrical fires are not rare. In 2021, an estimated 24,200 residential building electrical fires were reported to United States fire departments, and these fires caused an estimated 295 deaths, 900 injuries and over $1.2 billion in property loss.^[3]

What to do right now

If there are flames, smoke or a strong burning smell, leave and call for help. Ready.gov says every second counts in the event of a fire, and that you should call 9-1-1 or the fire department and say where you are.^[4] Do not stay to look for the source.

If there is no fire but you see one of the signs above, keep people and pets away from the spot, and do not touch the device, plate or cord. Do not use water near it. If the fixture or outlet is warm, stop using it. You can switch off the breaker for that circuit if you can reach the panel safely without touching anything hot, wet or damaged; see is it safe to reset a tripped circuit breaker before you flip anything back on. Then call a licensed electrician and tell them exactly what you saw, heard and smelled.

When the problem is outside, at the service

If the flicker happens in wind, or you see sparking near the wires or meter, the cause may be where the utility's line reaches your house. Flickering of home lights when the wind blows can be caused by bad contacts at the junction of the service entrance cable and the service drop, and the CPSC says to call the electric power company immediately.^[1] It says the electric power company or emergency personnel such as firemen are the only ones authorized to turn off the power in that part of your electrical system.^[1] Do not touch the equipment, and keep clear of any wires that are down or hanging.

When it is not an emergency, but should be checked

Flicker with none of those signs is not a reason to call 9-1-1. It still deserves a visit within days. A loose screw holding a wire or a worn out switch can lead to electrical arcing, overheating, or a fire,^[2] and a loose connection can look like nothing more than a light that dims now and then. Note which lights flicker and when, and whether it is getting worse. To see what an electrician checks, read what an electrician looks for when lights flicker; for what the visit costs, see how much an electrician charges to fix flickering lights in Virginia.

When to call a licensed pro

Always, for finding the cause. A fix that means opening a fixture, switch, panel or service equipment is work on live conductors. Virginia law says no individual shall engage in, or offer to engage in, work as a tradesman unless licensed.^[5] Check a licence with how to check if a contractor is licensed in Virginia before you let anyone open anything. Browse electrical services or read more electrical repair answers.

To get an electrician to look at it, describe the problem once and licensed local electricians respond. If it is an emergency, call 9-1-1 first.