Common Household Electrical Problems and Why You Should Call an Electrician
When you see a problem, it's important to call an electrician right away. Attempting to do electrical work without the proper training can lead to serious injury or damage.
There are several different types of electrical problems you might run into in your home. These include: a tripping breaker, faulty wiring, or even something as simple as flickering lights.
Lights Burn Out Frequently
It may be frustrating when light bulbs burn out quickly, but this is a sign that you are using a bulb that is too high for the fixture. When this happens, it will generate excess heat that can damage the socket. Switching to a lower wattage bulb will prevent this issue and also reduce your electricity bill.
Another electrical problem that you should contact a professional about is when a light bulb keeps flickering on and off. This is usually due to a bad connection in the socket, and it should be fixed by an electrician as soon as possible.
An electrician can also inspect your outlets to make sure they are all properly grounded and plugged in. This will help prevent fires and other electrical problems.
Outlets that continually fall out of the wall are a problem because they could be exposing wires to the elements. This can lead to a short circuit and cause a fire. This is why you should always use GFCI outlets in kitchens and bathrooms and install surge protectors throughout your home.
If you notice that your circuit breaker trips often, this can be caused by an overload of power. This can lead to a fire and should be fixed by an electrician as soon as you notice the problem. Electrician Pasadena can add a new circuit to your home or install a GFCI outlet to keep you and your family safe. They can also inspect and upgrade your home’s wiring to ensure it is up to code.
Shocks When Touching a Device or Switch
If you’re shocked when touching a switch, outlet or other electrical device, call in a professional right away. Even mild shocks can be dangerous and are a sign of larger problems that need to be addressed as soon as possible.
Shocks when switching a light switch can be caused by the same things that cause shocks in other outlets or switches, such as:
A faulty light switch may have loose wires or damaged circuitry, which could lead to unstable electricity and resulting in shocks. This can be caused by corrosion, poor installation, or just wear and tear over time.
An electrical surge can also lead to shocking light switches and outlets. These surges usually last for a split second, but can damage your appliances and drastically reduce their lifespan. They can be caused by cheaply made appliances, or by power spikes from the electricity company.
You can often prevent these electrical problems by using a surge protector or by installing an RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker). If you are still experiencing these issues, a professional electrician should inspect your home to find the source of the problem.
Having a flickering light is a common household electrical problem that can be extremely annoying. It is often caused by a bulb that has been used for too long or by a power surge, but it can also be an indicator of a problem with your wiring. This can be a fire hazard and should be fixed as soon as possible. You can determine the cause of this issue by checking to see if the problem happens in all rooms or only in one, or by turning off the breaker or fuse in your service panel and looking at it to see what is causing it.
Dimmer Lights
If your lights flicker on and off or are constantly dimming it could be a sign of an electrical problem. Each circuit can only handle so much electricity and once it reaches capacity the switch will trip. This is not only a nuisance, but it can also be dangerous and may require the services of an electrician.
Flickering lights can be caused by many different things. It could be that your wattage isn’t the same in every room or that you’re using a cheap bulb. It can also be a result of loose connections in switches or light fixtures. Loose connections cause electricity to jump over spaces and can lead to arcing which is a serious fire hazard.
Another possible reason for dimmer lights is that the light is on a shared circuit with other appliances like air conditioners, microwaves or hair dryers. Older homes often have this issue where plugs and lights share the same circuit, but newer homes usually use dedicated circuits. This can cause overloads and cause the lights to dim or flicker.
If the lights seem to only dim or flicker when you’re using an appliance it is a good idea to call a professional as soon as possible. They can help ensure that the neutral wire is sending power to the lighting and that it is not being interrupted by other devices. They can also check if the switches and outlets feel hot to the touch which would indicate an overheating problem and should be fixed as soon as possible. If you live in a city that experiences frequent brownouts it may be an indication of a larger issue with the power grid and should be reported to your utility company as well.
Power Sags or Dips
Power sags or dips are cousins to power surges, but instead of short bursts of electricity, they are sporadic drops in electrical voltage that dim your lights and then revert back to full brightness. These are the culprits behind those dreaded brown-outs – and while they are not as dangerous as a power surge, you should still have an electrician check your home.
This problem can be caused by a number of things, including the use of faulty or poorly made appliances (don’t buy electronics at flea markets) and even just too many devices plugged into one outlet (try to spread your gadgets around). A more serious issue is if you notice that an outlet is hot to the touch. This is a sign that the wiring can no longer carry the current load and it is dangerous to continue plugging in devices.
A power surge can occur for any reason, but some of the most common causes include:
Lightning strikes that hit nearby power lines (although it is rare that lightning actually makes contact with the line itself).
Switching on a device that draws too much electricity for its circuit wire (like a microwave or hairdryer) along with other appliances already in use on that same circuit.
Older homes with outdated wiring can be especially susceptible to electrical surges. This is because older wiring is less effective at regulating the flow of electricity, resulting in spikes and drops in voltage. Having an electrician upgrade your home’s wiring is the best way to prevent these issues from happening in the future. This will also protect your home against damage from any future lightning strikes.
Insufficient Electrical Power
The quality of your household power is important to your electronics, appliances and lighting. Low voltage can lead to flickering lights, incandescent bulbs that blow early or don’t glow as brightly, interference with radio and TV reception and other electrical issues. If you experience this issue, it’s important to have your home’s wiring inspected by a qualified electrician.
A major cause of poor quality power supply is power surges and spikes. These can be caused by a variety of factors, including the movement of electricity through your household wiring or the transmission of electricity over the power lines. Power surges can be anywhere from five or ten volts when your hair dryer runs to thousands of volts when lightning strikes a transformer. Internal power surges also occur dozens of times each day as appliances with motors start and shut off, diverting electricity from one device to another.
Frequent tripping of the circuit breakers is another sign of inadequate wiring. The circuit breaker and fuse box are there to stop current flow when they detect an overload, which can be caused by multiple devices in the same outlet or too many appliances drawing on one line. If you notice this problem, a licensed electrician can help establish dedicated circuits for large appliances and divide rooms with multiple devices into separate electrical systems to prevent overheating and fire hazards.
These problems may seem minor, but they can be a serious hazard to your family. While you can make some fixes yourself (such as replacing a light bulb), it’s best to leave all electrical work to the professionals from Electrician Pasadena. Attempting DIY electrical fixes could lead to more problems, and even the most common household electrical issues can be a fire hazard if not dealt with promptly by a professional.
When you see a problem, it's important to call an electrician right away. Attempting to do electrical work without the proper training can lead to serious injury or damage. There are several different types of electrical problems you might run into in your home. These include: a tripping breaker, faulty wiring, or even something as…