Although homeowners can concur on the importance of electricity in their homes, few of them actually carry out periodic electrical inspections to ensure that everything is in working order. If you do not take measures to regularly check on how your electrical system is fairing, then you find electrical repairs creeping up on your at the most inconvenient of times. These inspections are especially pertinent if you live in an old residence with an aging system. Here are some of the indicators of residential electrical problems that would require the attention of a professional electrician.
Your circuit breakers keep tripping
One of the biggest red flags you could get in your home is if your circuit breaker keep tripping. Circuit breakers function toward ensuring your residence does not experience power surges. Power surges not only pose a risk of permanently damaging your appliances, but they could also cause an electrical fire thus compromise your entire home. If your circuit breaker goes off once in a while then you should not be too worried as it is simply doing its job. However, if you are constantly finding power is being cut off in various rooms around the home, then you need to enlist the services of an electrician to determine and rectify the cause of the surges.
Flickering lights
Another indicator of electrical problems in your home is constant flickering of lights. If one light flickers, then you should change the bulb to check if the problem persists. Typically, bulbs will flicker if they are nearing the end of their lifespan. However, if changing your bulbs does not fix the problem, this could mean there is an underlying issue with your electrical wiring or your circuit breaker. An electrician would be best suited to diagnosing the cause of the flickering and determine if repairs would suffice or if you would require replacement of some of the components in your system.
Charring or discolouration on your electrical outlets
If you are using an electrical appliance an experience a low buzzing or see some sparks flying, there is a definite problem with your electrical system. The first thing you should do in this instance is unplug the appliance and not use the offending outlet until an electrician has looked at it. In addition to this, you need to inspect the other electrical outlets in your home to figure out whether the problem is exclusive to one room or if it occurs in the rest of the home. Issues of sparking and charring indicate that there is an electrical fire that happens when the current moves from the outlet into the appliance. It can stem from faulty wiring in your residence or improper grounding.
Share29 October 2015
Hi, if you want to have a healthy and safe home or business, your electrics have to be in good order. That is why it helps to do a lot of research before hiring an electrician, and it is also a good idea to know a bit about the basics of electricity, home installation and related topics. Hi, my name is Tim. I am not an electrician, but I have worked closely with electricians in my job as a general contractor. I wanted to explore a bit more about what they do, and I also wanted to create a space full of tips and ideas for home and business owners. Please, explore this space and enjoy reading.
