There are some telltale signs that your home electrical circuit could use a check-up. When the electrical circuit starts to falter, you’ll notice it all around the house. Paying attention can save you money, and also prevent dangerous side-effects like electrical shocks.
Signs Your Electrical Circuit is Having Problems
Problems with the electrical circuit can cause power dip, breakers to trip, and higher electrical bills. In worse case scenarios, you’ll find that you’re getting electrical shocks when you try to turn on light switches or plug-in appliances. Bad wiring can also lead to electrical fires. Any problem with your electricity should always be checked out by a professional electrician.
Surges
Electrical surges are a significant threat to your home appliances and your electrical circuit. Common causes of an electrical surge are during an intense thunderstorm. Lighting striking down on power lines outside of the home can cause a surge of electricity to run through your home. This intense surge, although it may only last a microsecond, can be very damaging to your appliances or anything that is plugged into your electrical circuit.
If you live in an area that is prone to thunder and lighting, be very aware of how your appliances are reacting after a lightning storm. Check outlets to see if you can see anything that looks or smells burnt, and check your appliances to make sure they are still functioning correctly.
If you notice that you are experiencing power surges outside of weather and storms, then there could be a problem with the entire circuit. Be smart and have an electrician check it out.
Dips
Dips in power are another common sign of an electrical problem. If you notice that lights are flickering or dimming at night, it’s a good idea to call a professional electrician to check out the electrical circuit for bad connections. Another sign is if some lights are shining bright and others are dimmer than usual.
Trips
Finally, if you find that your breakers are tripping more often, it could be a problem with your electrical circuit. Your breakers are there to protect you if you are overloading a circuit. Common culprits are hair dryers or other power-consuming appliances. Make sure that you aren’t overloading the circuit. However, if you are trying to use appliances normally and the breakers keep tripping, it’s time to call a professional to come and locate the problem and come up with a solution.
Power problems can lead to high electrical bills, broken appliances, electrical shocks, and even electrical fires. If you notice that your electricity is not powering your home the same as normal, it’s better to call an electrician immediately to check the wiring, and fix the problem before it becomes too costly or dangerous.
To check your electrical circuit, call a professional electrician from Trailhead Electric.
