[Stu from NYC]

For the past few months when we put on lights in the kitchen they flicker for about 20 seconds and than they are fine. There are 4 lights going on and they are all doing this.

Any idea why this should be happening and what to do about it?

Does not happen anywhere else in our house so scratching my head about this.

[villagetinker]

Try changing the light bulbs, I am assuming these are LED type, and I have seen strange operation when they are starting to fail. I would change all four bulbs and see if the problem is eliminated. Next would be changing the dimmer, once again I have seen strange operation with these. Double check that all wires are tight on the dimmer. The last item may require an electrician to check the wiring connection in the first light in the string of lights as i have seen intermittent operation that clears up when the connection heats up.
Does this happen all the time, at all times of the day? Are there any other electronic controls on these lights (Alexa, Apple,Ring, etc.)? Are all the lights the same, all LED or all incandescent?

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by villagetinker

Try changing the light bulbs, I am assuming these are LED type, and I have seen strange operation when they are starting to fail. I would change all four bulbs and see if the problem is eliminated. Next would be changing the dimmer, once again I have seen strange operation with these. Double check that all wires are tight on the dimmer. The last item may require an electrician to check the wiring connection in the first light in the string of lights as i have seen intermittent operation that clears up when the connection heats up.
Does this happen all the time, at all times of the day? Are there any other electronic controls on these lights (Alexa, Apple,Ring, etc.)? Are all the lights the same, all LED or all incandescent?

Believe they are all LED, been a few years since I put them in but when I replace them will know for sure. Does seem to happen late afternoon but the house has constant temperature via thermostat so would not think that was the problem, Thanks for the suggestions.

[Maker]

LED lights that are not designed to be dimmed, can flicker when on a dimmer switch. There should be words about that on the bulb itself.
If you have non dimmable lights, perhaps the dimmer switch got bumped down slightly from full brightness. The flickering can stop as the light heats up. That "heat up" effect is a bad thing, and a main reason why you never want to put a non dimmable LED light on a dimmer - it's fire risk.

[fishon]

Bulbs are worn out. Replace them.

[JoelJohnson]

I had a similar problem, called SECO (local electric co) and they found out that a vole had eaten the insulation on one of the main lines coming in underground. They patched it and it's OK now.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by fishon

Bulbs are worn out. Replace them.

What confuses me is this flickering only happens around dinner time, and apparently started when we got daily temps in the 90.s.

Also how is it possible all four bulbs need replacement at one time?

[Keefelane66]

Keep it simple if all four lights are wired off one switch start there. Lights will be wired as a parallel circuit not in series. Power control starts at switch. IF switch is a dimmer it may be heating up and starting to fail. When dimmer is activated a resistance is applied to circuit “ Turning the switch gives a greater resistance, and hence a lower current through the bulb. However, the power that doesn't come out of the bulb is disappated across this resistor (it will get hot) most flickering is caused by an old, faulty or incompatible wall switch or bulbs that are loose or of poor quality.“.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by JoelJohnson

I had a similar problem, called SECO (local electric co) and they found out that a vole had eaten the insulation on one of the main lines coming in underground. They patched it and it's OK now.

What is a "vole". Was that a typo?

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

What confuses me is this flickering only happens around dinner time, and apparently started when we got daily temps in the 90.s.
Also how is it possible all four bulbs need replacement at one time?

That reads like low voltage in the distribution grid around max air-conditioning and dinner prep time. If that is the case, then its due to the more sensitive nature of LED bulbs versus incandescents and the energy demand is very near maximum energy purchased and being distributed. .

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

That reads like low voltage in the distribution grid around max air-conditioning and dinner prep time. If that is the case, then its due to the more sensitive nature of LED bulbs versus incandescents and the energy demand is very near maximum energy purchased and being distributed. .

Thought of that but if so would think others would be complaining about the flickering. Lets hope for some cooler days and see what happens than.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

What is a "vole". Was that a typo?

Voles are annoying little creatures that eat things we wish they would not.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by JoelJohnson

I had a similar problem, called SECO (local electric co) and they found out that a vole had eaten the insulation on one of the main lines coming in underground. They patched it and it's OK now.

We recently lost power to everything in our home that ran on 240 volts, and things running on 120 volts flickered and dimmed, because of a bad underground line coming into our home. SECO seriously cheaps out on underground lines, they direct bury aluminum wires. The proper way is to bury copper wire inside a conduit, which costs more in the short run but prevents expensive fixes in the long run. Over a long enough period of time, just about all direct bury aluminum lines will eventually oxidize and fail.

[Michael G.]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

What is a "vole". Was that a typo?

Vole Identification, Habits & Behavior | Florida Pest Control

I never know there was since a rodent in Florida

[Pinball wizard]

The house is haunted. Sell it and buy a 4 bedroom.!