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Why are My House Lights Dimming?

Dimming lights a wiring a problem or power company problem, Let see!

All the power coming into your house arrives via a thick service entry cable, which is ended inside the main electrical service panel, usually located in the basement or, less often, in the garage. From there different branch circuits distribute the electricity to the various parts of the house.

The power sent to your home by your utility company fluctuates in voltage much of the time.
If the voltage drops and surges are within the specifications set by the power company, this is considered normal. Usually, this will not cause evidently dimming lights or other electrical problems (although it can depreciate sensitive electrical equipment like computers, TV’s, DVD players and other appliances over time).
But dimming lights throughout the house sounds as though it could be a problem inside the house itself and may not be related to the power company at all. The fact that your neighbors are not experiencing similar problems would seem to confirm this. If it were a power company problem everyone on the street would be observing dimming lights and malfunctioning appliances.
Most service entry cable installed these days is made of twisted strands of aluminum wire. The wire heats up under load and then cools down again, expanding and contracting during each cycle. The aluminum wire can also disintegrate, especially so if there is excessive moisture in the basement, or the cable end was not doused in anti-oxidant paste at installation.
Often, the type of problems you’re experiencing can be traced to a loose or corroded connection inside the service panel. If the dimming was only occurring in one part of the house, say the dining room, there might be a loose wire connection on the breaker or the fuse socket servicing just that one circuit. But since the dimming in your house seems to be happening all over, it could be that one of the screw lugs that secures the exposed ends of the service entry cable to the main breaker is loose.
In older homes dimming lights can also be a sign of water intrusion into the service panel or the meter outside. If the wad of flexible putty sealing the service entry cable and the top of the meter socket has worked loose, developed holes or cracks, or has crumbled away, water hitting the cable on the outside of the house can run down into the meter. From there it can enter the short section of service cable that runs between the meter and service panel. Once inside the service cable it runs easily into the service panel and causes corrosion inside. Badly damaged service panels often cannot be resuscitated and must be replaced.

If the home is newer, chances are there is simply a loose or lightly corroded connection. This is an easy and inexpensive repair for an electrician. An older home might have either of those conditions, or a water-damaged service panel – or some other problem we haven’t thought of yet.

But the bottom line is that you need to get his looked at by a professional. Opening up and trying to repair a service panel problem is not a do it yourself project. There is live electricity inside, and it can kill you if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing.

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Overall excellent service, from beginning to end, we called STS Electric and got the information we needed in terms of the scope of the job, pricing and time it will take to complete it. It was within our budget and time frame so we decided to hire them for the job. They were super efficient, no headache, came in, scoped everything and start the work, they were done in a few hours and everything worked out perfect. Thanks.
I highly recommend STS Electric. The guys were great. They explained everything to us & did the job in a timely fashion.
⁠The team came to install my ev charger. They were fast and very kind. Would definitely call them again.
If you live in the Chicago area, I strongly suggest you look no further for your electric needs but to go with the best company I have ever worked with. From the office staff, supervisors and technicians are rated 10 out of 5 if that was possible. An amazing service rendered and as a very satisfied customer they will stay with me for all future projects.The detailed and precision of this service was unbelievable. Knowledgeable, courteous and detailed customer care was a plus for me. I had no worries when worked began because I felt I was in safe hands. The results were flawless. I am a very satisfied customer and recommend to all.
STS Electric arrived on time and quickly resolved our electrical problems, and replaced 2 Ring camera/lights devices. I will continue to use him when I need help with electrical issues.
Being first time EV owners, we had quite a bit to learn about the process of getting an EV charger installed in our home garage. Ana was very responsive and arranged for a same day in person consult. Our project manager, Sam, was both friendly and extremely knowledgeable, we appreciated that he took his time with us as we had many questions. After we decided to proceed, they scheduled us within the same week. Our electrician Francisco did great work and finished the project in one day. He even performed the drywall himself. Highly recommend this company!
Sam and the team were great and promptly completed the outlet installation and integration
My STS electrician experience was fantastic, I had them come in to do a few different projects and they were great. I love how the communication (for me, from Ana) is clear, kind, and concentrated on my needs; I love how the guys who came (for me, Francisco and Juan) were talented, kind, listened to my concerns, and just plain got the job done! I'm getting these guys back to do more work, but for now I'll say: You're in good hands.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words. We appreciate your business and look forward to working with you.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the stellar rating! We are thrilled to know you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're glad to hear you had a great experience. If there's anything else we can do for you, please let us know!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star rating! We're delighted you had a great experience with our service. If you ever need assistance in the future, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're delighted to hear that you had a positive experience with us. If you ever need any assistance in the future, feel free to reach out.
Great job always available for quick repairs if needed. Was talked to like a human, which I value.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you appreciated our service and communication. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we're always here to help whenever you need us. Looking forward to working with you again in the future!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a great experience. Your feedback is truly appreciated.
The technicians worked diligently and everything was completed to my satisfaction and on schedule. The manager Ana was transparent and answered all my questions. She was courteous and professional. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you were satisfied with the service and that everything was completed to your satisfaction and on schedule. Our team, including our manager, always strives to be transparent and professional. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We appreciate your feedback and support. We're thrilled to know that you're satisfied with our service.
Very communicative, clean work
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you appreciated our communication and the quality of our work. It was a pleasure serving you, and we look forward to assisting you in the future.
I couldn’t have had a better experience not only were they thorough they found so many urgent issues that needed to get repaired without breaking the bank. They were in communication twice a day to give me updates. Super reliable and skilled. I am definitely going to asking for their services once I am ready to make smart home updates!!!! Bid applause goes to Ana, Sam, Javier, and Josue. Not sure what would have done without them!!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience with us. We are thrilled to hear that you found our services thorough and reliable. Our team takes pride in staying in communication and ensuring that important issues are addressed in a budget-friendly manner. We look forward to assisting you with smart home updates in the future!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We appreciate your feedback and are thrilled to know that you had a positive experience with us.
It’s a very serious and very responsible and the work is very good quality, the team are very hard working I would recommend to everyone. They are affordable, I was satisfied with the work they did, 100% would recommend
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for recommending us! We are thrilled to hear that you are satisfied with our work and found our team to be hardworking and responsible. Providing quality and affordable services is our top priority, and we couldn’t be happier to see that reflected in your experience. We look forward to serving you again in the future!
Sam saved me a ton of money !! Partial power went out. Sam recommended calling ComEd first. Problem was a bad electric meter. Power up and running. Net cost to me $ 0.00
Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to know that Sam was able to guide you effectively and help you resolve the issue at no cost. We always strive to provide honest and helpful advice. Should you have any further electrical needs in the future, don't hesitate to reach out to us!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a great experience with us. If you have any feedback or need assistance, feel free to reach out. We look forward to serving you again!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you're satisfied with our services. Please feel free to reach out if you need anything else.
STS Electric has been a life savior for me! Their electricians are attentive, friendly, and dedicated, always going above and beyond to address the customers needs. I called on a Monday, and was able to get 2 - 3 electricians on the job on Tuesday, the very next day and scheduled throughout the week.

They've done all my rewiring for me, and they do the job in a timely manner. When they work, they put plastic everywhere to make sure my belongings stay clean and not so dusty.

The supervising electrician, Sam, has been absolutely wonderful. He explains everything step by step to me in laymans terms that I can easily understand. Ana who schedules and deals with the finances is super nice and dedicated as well! And the electricians Francisco and José were also very communicative about what work they were going to do and ensured that all my outlets, switches, and new fixtures were located exactly where I wanted them to be with electrical code compliance in mind.

STS Electric is the type of business I know I can rely on in a pinch. Just a really great team with high quality workmanship. I highly recommend this company!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! We're thrilled to hear that our team was able to provide you with the service you needed and that you found our work to be timely and considerate of your home. We always strive to go above and beyond for our customers, and it means the world to us to know our efforts are appreciated. Your recommendation is an incredible compliment, and we're grateful to have earned your trust. We look forward to being there for any future needs you might have!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the great review and relying on STS Electric for your all electrical services.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful 5-star rating! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
STS really took care of us! Sam and Ana were so attentive and understanding with a very difficult situation. Their advice and expertise allowed my fiance and I to feel safe and taken care of. The service team was also very professional and did a great job. Thanks STS team!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that our team provided you with attentive and professional service during a challenging time. It's fantastic to know that Sam and Ana's expertise helped you feel safe and well taken care of. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to assisting you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with us. If you have any additional feedback or need assistance in the future, feel free to reach out. We appreciate your support!
Super happy with the work done by STS Electric. I called first thing in the morning and they were able to be here by noon. I blew a circuit in the middle of the night and smelt burning. They were able to quickly identify the issue, separate circuits and run new wiring making me once again feel safe and secure in my home. Highly recommend!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your feedback! We are thrilled to hear that we were able to address your electrical issue promptly and make you feel safe in your home. Your recommendation means a lot to us and we look forward to assisting you with any future needs.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a great experience with us. If there's anything more we can do for you, please let us know. Looking forward to serving you again!
Response from the owner:Thank you for giving us a 5-star rating! We're delighted to know you had a positive experience with us. Your support means a lot and encourages us to continue providing excellent service. If you have any further feedback or need assistance, feel free to reach out. We look forward to serving you again. Have a great day!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're delighted to know that you had a positive experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for leaving us a 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a positive experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your positive rating. We're thrilled to know you were satisfied with our service. If you need any more assistance or have questions, feel free to reach out. Have a great day!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We truly appreciate your support and are glad to know that you had a positive experience with us. If there's anything else we can assist you with, please feel free to reach out.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star rating! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our services. Your support means a lot to us, and we look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for giving us a 5-star rating! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our services. Your support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to assisting you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We are thrilled to know that you had a great experience with us. Your feedback motivates us to keep providing top-notch services.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We are glad to know you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're glad to know you had a great experience. We look forward to serving you again.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We are thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with us. Your feedback motivates us to continue providing excellent service. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're thrilled you had a great experience. If you need any assistance in the future, feel free to reach out.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're glad to know you had a great experience with us and appreciate your support.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We appreciate your support and are glad to know you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
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Overall excellent service, from beginning to end, we called STS Electric and got the information we needed in terms of the scope of the job, pricing and time it will take to complete it. It was within our budget and time frame so we decided to hire them for the job. They were super efficient, no headache, came in, scoped everything and start the work, they were done in a few hours and everything worked out perfect. Thanks.
I highly recommend STS Electric. The guys were great. They explained everything to us & did the job in a timely fashion.
⁠The team came to install my ev charger. They were fast and very kind. Would definitely call them again.
If you live in the Chicago area, I strongly suggest you look no further for your electric needs but to go with the best company I have ever worked with. From the office staff, supervisors and technicians are rated 10 out of 5 if that was possible. An amazing service rendered and as a very satisfied customer they will stay with me for all future projects.The detailed and precision of this service was unbelievable. Knowledgeable, courteous and detailed customer care was a plus for me. I had no worries when worked began because I felt I was in safe hands. The results were flawless. I am a very satisfied customer and recommend to all.
STS Electric arrived on time and quickly resolved our electrical problems, and replaced 2 Ring camera/lights devices. I will continue to use him when I need help with electrical issues.
Being first time EV owners, we had quite a bit to learn about the process of getting an EV charger installed in our home garage. Ana was very responsive and arranged for a same day in person consult. Our project manager, Sam, was both friendly and extremely knowledgeable, we appreciated that he took his time with us as we had many questions. After we decided to proceed, they scheduled us within the same week. Our electrician Francisco did great work and finished the project in one day. He even performed the drywall himself. Highly recommend this company!
Sam and the team were great and promptly completed the outlet installation and integration
My STS electrician experience was fantastic, I had them come in to do a few different projects and they were great. I love how the communication (for me, from Ana) is clear, kind, and concentrated on my needs; I love how the guys who came (for me, Francisco and Juan) were talented, kind, listened to my concerns, and just plain got the job done! I'm getting these guys back to do more work, but for now I'll say: You're in good hands.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your kind words. We appreciate your business and look forward to working with you.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the stellar rating! We are thrilled to know you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're glad to hear you had a great experience. If there's anything else we can do for you, please let us know!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star rating! We're delighted you had a great experience with our service. If you ever need assistance in the future, please don't hesitate to reach out.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're delighted to hear that you had a positive experience with us. If you ever need any assistance in the future, feel free to reach out.
Great job always available for quick repairs if needed. Was talked to like a human, which I value.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you appreciated our service and communication. Your satisfaction is our top priority, and we're always here to help whenever you need us. Looking forward to working with you again in the future!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a great experience. Your feedback is truly appreciated.
The technicians worked diligently and everything was completed to my satisfaction and on schedule. The manager Ana was transparent and answered all my questions. She was courteous and professional. Thank you!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that you were satisfied with the service and that everything was completed to your satisfaction and on schedule. Our team, including our manager, always strives to be transparent and professional. We appreciate your feedback and look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We appreciate your feedback and support. We're thrilled to know that you're satisfied with our service.
Very communicative, clean work
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're thrilled to hear that you appreciated our communication and the quality of our work. It was a pleasure serving you, and we look forward to assisting you in the future.
I couldn’t have had a better experience not only were they thorough they found so many urgent issues that needed to get repaired without breaking the bank. They were in communication twice a day to give me updates. Super reliable and skilled. I am definitely going to asking for their services once I am ready to make smart home updates!!!! Bid applause goes to Ana, Sam, Javier, and Josue. Not sure what would have done without them!!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your experience with us. We are thrilled to hear that you found our services thorough and reliable. Our team takes pride in staying in communication and ensuring that important issues are addressed in a budget-friendly manner. We look forward to assisting you with smart home updates in the future!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We appreciate your feedback and are thrilled to know that you had a positive experience with us.
It’s a very serious and very responsible and the work is very good quality, the team are very hard working I would recommend to everyone. They are affordable, I was satisfied with the work they did, 100% would recommend
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for recommending us! We are thrilled to hear that you are satisfied with our work and found our team to be hardworking and responsible. Providing quality and affordable services is our top priority, and we couldn’t be happier to see that reflected in your experience. We look forward to serving you again in the future!
Sam saved me a ton of money !! Partial power went out. Sam recommended calling ComEd first. Problem was a bad electric meter. Power up and running. Net cost to me $ 0.00
Response from the owner:Thank you for taking the time to leave a review and for sharing your experience! We're thrilled to know that Sam was able to guide you effectively and help you resolve the issue at no cost. We always strive to provide honest and helpful advice. Should you have any further electrical needs in the future, don't hesitate to reach out to us!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a great experience with us. If you have any feedback or need assistance, feel free to reach out. We look forward to serving you again!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you're satisfied with our services. Please feel free to reach out if you need anything else.
STS Electric has been a life savior for me! Their electricians are attentive, friendly, and dedicated, always going above and beyond to address the customers needs. I called on a Monday, and was able to get 2 - 3 electricians on the job on Tuesday, the very next day and scheduled throughout the week.

They've done all my rewiring for me, and they do the job in a timely manner. When they work, they put plastic everywhere to make sure my belongings stay clean and not so dusty.

The supervising electrician, Sam, has been absolutely wonderful. He explains everything step by step to me in laymans terms that I can easily understand. Ana who schedules and deals with the finances is super nice and dedicated as well! And the electricians Francisco and José were also very communicative about what work they were going to do and ensured that all my outlets, switches, and new fixtures were located exactly where I wanted them to be with electrical code compliance in mind.

STS Electric is the type of business I know I can rely on in a pinch. Just a really great team with high quality workmanship. I highly recommend this company!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words and for taking the time to share your experience! We're thrilled to hear that our team was able to provide you with the service you needed and that you found our work to be timely and considerate of your home. We always strive to go above and beyond for our customers, and it means the world to us to know our efforts are appreciated. Your recommendation is an incredible compliment, and we're grateful to have earned your trust. We look forward to being there for any future needs you might have!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the great review and relying on STS Electric for your all electrical services.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the wonderful 5-star rating! We're thrilled to hear you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
STS really took care of us! Sam and Ana were so attentive and understanding with a very difficult situation. Their advice and expertise allowed my fiance and I to feel safe and taken care of. The service team was also very professional and did a great job. Thanks STS team!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that our team provided you with attentive and professional service during a challenging time. It's fantastic to know that Sam and Ana's expertise helped you feel safe and well taken care of. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to assisting you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We are thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with us. If you have any additional feedback or need assistance in the future, feel free to reach out. We appreciate your support!
Super happy with the work done by STS Electric. I called first thing in the morning and they were able to be here by noon. I blew a circuit in the middle of the night and smelt burning. They were able to quickly identify the issue, separate circuits and run new wiring making me once again feel safe and secure in my home. Highly recommend!!!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your feedback! We are thrilled to hear that we were able to address your electrical issue promptly and make you feel safe in your home. Your recommendation means a lot to us and we look forward to assisting you with any future needs.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a great experience with us. If there's anything more we can do for you, please let us know. Looking forward to serving you again!
Response from the owner:Thank you for giving us a 5-star rating! We're delighted to know you had a positive experience with us. Your support means a lot and encourages us to continue providing excellent service. If you have any further feedback or need assistance, feel free to reach out. We look forward to serving you again. Have a great day!
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're delighted to know that you had a positive experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for leaving us a 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a positive experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your positive rating. We're thrilled to know you were satisfied with our service. If you need any more assistance or have questions, feel free to reach out. Have a great day!
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We truly appreciate your support and are glad to know that you had a positive experience with us. If there's anything else we can assist you with, please feel free to reach out.
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for the 5-star rating! We’re thrilled to hear that you had a great experience with our services. Your support means a lot to us, and we look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for giving us a 5-star rating! We're thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with our services. Your support is greatly appreciated, and we look forward to assisting you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We are thrilled to know that you had a great experience with us. Your feedback motivates us to keep providing top-notch services.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We are glad to know you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the perfect rating! We're glad to know you had a great experience. We look forward to serving you again.
Response from the owner:Thank you for your 5-star rating! We are thrilled to hear that you had a positive experience with us. Your feedback motivates us to continue providing excellent service. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're thrilled you had a great experience. If you need any assistance in the future, feel free to reach out.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're thrilled to know you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We're glad to know you had a great experience with us and appreciate your support.
Response from the owner:Thank you for the 5-star rating! We appreciate your support and are glad to know you had a great experience with us. We look forward to serving you again in the future.