What causes the lights to flicker throughout the entire house?

Whole-house light flickering typically indicates a problem with your main electrical service, loose connections at the panel, or issues with Hydro Ottawa's supply line. This is usually more serious than flickering in just one room and often requires immediate professional attention.

Electrical Service Issues are the most common cause of house-wide flickering. Your main electrical service brings power from Hydro Ottawa's lines into your home's panel. If there are loose connections where the service lines connect to your meter or main panel, the entire house can experience voltage fluctuations that cause flickering. This is particularly dangerous because loose connections create heat and can cause fires.

Utility Supply Problems from Hydro Ottawa can also cause whole-house flickering. This might be due to issues with transformers, power lines, or voltage regulation equipment. If your neighbors are experiencing similar issues, it's likely a utility problem. However, if only your house is affected, the problem is probably on your property.

Overloaded Electrical Panel or undersized service can cause flickering when large appliances kick on. If you have an older 100-amp service and multiple high-draw appliances (electric heat, air conditioning, electric dryer), your system may struggle to provide consistent power. This is common in Ottawa's older neighborhoods where homes still have original 100-amp services.

Loose Main Panel Connections are extremely dangerous and a leading cause of electrical fires. The main breaker, service entrance cables, or bus bar connections can become loose over time due to thermal expansion and contraction. These connections carry the full electrical load of your home, so any looseness creates dangerous arcing and heat buildup.

In Ottawa, the Ontario Electrical Safety Code requires that any work on main panels or service equipment be performed by ESA-licensed electricians. This isn't DIY territory - working on main panels can be fatal, and the power company needs to coordinate any service disconnections.

When to Call Emergency Service: If flickering is accompanied by burning smells, warm outlets, or sparking sounds from your panel, shut off your main breaker and call for emergency electrical service immediately. If you smell burning but can't locate the source, consider leaving your home and calling 911.

What You Should Do: First, check if neighbors are experiencing similar issues - if so, call Hydro Ottawa at 613-738-6400. If it's isolated to your home, contact a licensed electrician immediately. Document when the flickering occurs (does it happen when appliances turn on?) and note any patterns.

For whole-house electrical issues like this, Electrical Ottawa provides emergency service throughout Ottawa and can quickly diagnose whether the problem is with your panel, service entrance, or requires coordination with Hydro Ottawa. Don't wait on electrical service issues - they rarely fix themselves and often worsen over time.

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