5 Electrical Problems Homeowners Experience
Each year, about 51,000 home fires happen because of electrical problems. These are thousands of home fires that could have been prevented with some simple vigilance and home maintenance. As a homeowner, it’s easy to forget about the electrical wiring hidden away in your walls.
However, there are some signs you can look for that indicate a problem. You can then fix the issue and prevent a tragedy.
Keep an eye out for these five common electrical problems that homeowners face.
1. Flickering or Dimming Lights
You turn a light on and begin to notice that it’s flickering or randomly dimming. This is not only annoying, it’s potentially dangerous. This inconsistent performance is a sign that there is a poor connection in your home electrical system.
The gap in connection could be because a wire got loose or has corroded with age. This gap creates arcing, which can lead to overheating, sparking, and fire. You will need an electrician to find the source of the problem and make the necessary repairs.
2. Dead Outlets
If you plug something into an outlet and nothing happens, you may have a dead outlet. This could be something minor like a tripped breaker from a blown fuse. Or it could be something serious like excessive heat buildup that resulted in melted wires or outlets.
3. Warm Switches or Outlets
If you place your hand on a switch or outlet and it feels warm, you have serious electrical issues and need a professional to come out immediately. Home electricity is safe when installed correctly and in good repair. Heat is a sign of a problem and one that can quickly turn into a dangerous house fire.
4. Breakers Frequently Tripping
Powering a home is a delicate balance between providing enough electricity to power the home and not providing too much to create a dangerous situation. If you find yourself repeatedly tripping breakers, then this is a sign that the circuit is overloaded.
You are using more electricity than what the system can handle. You need to do one of the following, reduce your electricity usage, upgrade your electrical service, or add a circuit.
5. Outdated Wiring
If you have an older home, then you also have an old home electrical system. The wiring in your home can become corroded, insufficient, or obsolete. As time goes on, you may find yourself making more electrical repairs as your home struggles to keep up with your ever-increasing electrical demands.
Home energy companies can help you assess the condition of your current system and make suggestions on how to improve it.
Fix Your Electrical Problems
If you find any of these issues with your home’s electrical system, you need to hire a professional to come and fix your electrical problems. Ignoring them can create a dangerous situation that could result in fire or injury.
Check out our tech articles for the latest innovations that you can add to your home now that you’ve fixed your electrical system.