A light in my hallway flickered for weeks. I changed the bulb twice, and it kept flickering, which meant the problem was not the bulb. I called an electrician and paid for a visit that took him about four minutes. The fix was so simple I was embarrassed, so let me save you the visit.

If a new bulb still flickers, the problem is usually the connection, not the wiring in your walls.

Check these, in order

1. Bulb not seated. Turn off the light, unscrew the bulb, and screw it back in firmly. A loose bulb is the most common cause, especially in fixtures that vibrate.
2. Loose switch connection. If the light has a wall switch, the wires inside the switch can loosen over time. Turn off the breaker, remove the switch plate, and tighten the screws on the wires.
3. Loose wire in the fixture. Turn off power, unscrew the fixture, and check that the wires are snug under the wire nuts.
4. Dimming switch mismatch. If you have a dimmer and an LED bulb, they must be compatible. A standard dimmer can make an LED flicker even when everything else is fine.

My four-minute fix

My hallway light used a pull chain, and the chain was half-pulled, leaving the switch in a weird middle position. A half-engaged switch can flicker like a bad connection. The electrician just clicked it fully one way, and the flickering stopped. I paid for the lesson.

Safety rules

Flickering can also be a sign of a loose connection in the panel or a failing outlet, which is an actual fire hazard. If the flickering is in multiple rooms, or the light gets warm, or you smell anything odd, call an electrician. Those are not do-it-yourself signs.

What about fluorescent lights

Fluorescent tubes flicker when they age or when the starter is dying. Replacing the tube is the first move, and if it still flickers, the ballast may need replacing, which is a job for someone comfortable with wiring.

Now I check the obvious stuff first. The four-minute fix taught me to start simple before calling anyone.