Flickering light issue

Hi, I am new to the forum so I apologize if this is in the wrong place.

I just moved into my first home (1970s bi-level). Everything is fine but the lights attached to the outside in the back and the garage flicker. New bulbs will work for about 10 seconds and then go very dark and flicker dimly after that. The garage opener works fine and other equipment like my electric mower work fine when plugged into the same outlets.

Any ideas?

 

Early to mid '70s or late '70s? Do you have aluminum wiring?

 

With power off slightly bend the tab at the bottom of the bulb socket up. If that doesn't help check the connections by redoing them. If the switch is back stabbed move the wires to the screws. If no luck, with the breaker off, remove the two wires on the switch and connect them together with a wire nut. If when you turn the breaker back on it's okay replace the switch.

 

Welcome to the forums!

Do you know what kind of lamps are in the flickering fixtures? Are they standard incandescent, or something else like CFL or LED? Are these fixtures the ones with motion detectors?

 

I will check those out and get back. I can't for a couple days but for now thank you!
The house was built in the early 70s, but the electrical looks fairly new (At least what is going into the house)

 

It wouldn't be unusual for a 40 year old house to have the service wiring updated, but the service wiring isn't what would concern me. Newer service wiring doesn't mean the whole house has been rewired. You need to find out what kind of wiring you have to all the branch circuits in the house. The best way to find out is to take the cover off the service panel (carefully). Take pictures and post them on this forum and we can help you identify the wiring. Flickering lights and flickering power at receptacles are symptoms of deteriorating aluminum wiring connections. The early '70s was right in the middle of the period when aluminum wiring was widely used.

 

Also, check if any of your affected receptacles are back-stabbed, rather than wired on the screws. That was also very common in the 70s.