DIYbanter - View Single Post - Dimming lights

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wrote:
My lights have been flickering (it's really more of a dimming, as they
don't get brighter), whenever something is turned on that takes a bit
of load - garbage disposal, vacuum, washing machine, AC, microwave,
even the toaster and the TV makes the lights flicker. It affects all
of the lights in the house. I've called the utility company and they
came out and replaced the 'taps' and told me to have a nice day. It
seemed to settle down for a day, but now they are dimming again. It
happens a lot - once every few minutes or so maybe, and it seems to
happen more in the morning than in the evening for some reason.

But the strangest thing is that I noticed that the *street* light
outside my house dims if I turn on my garbage disposal. I've asked my
next door neighbor if she has noticed her lights flickering and she
said she hadn't (which I don't completely believe because I swear I saw
her garage light flicker when my washing machine turned on a few days
ago).

So, who should I call first - the utility company or an electrician?

I should have mentioned - this actually occurs quite randomly, not
necessarily when we turn something on. Almost like my lights are
dimming in response to something turning on at one of my neighbor's
houses.