Common Household Electrical Problems

When it comes to electric issues in a home, your first priority should be your own safety. High bills, flickering lights, and damaged appliances are all indications of electrical issues in your home. If you notice these problems, it is essential to call an electrician right away. Keep reading to learn what the most common issues are.

Regular Electrical Surges

An electrical surge can be caused by damage to power lines, bad electrical wiring, lightning strikes, faulty appliances, and more. Even though surges will only last a few microseconds, if they happen too often, they can cause damage to the electrical components connected to the home, degrading the overall life expectancy significantly. If you are dealing with regular electrical surges, the issue will probably be an electrical device connected to the wiring itself or the home grid. Try to remove any cheap or low-quality devices or power boards from your outlet to see if this helps to prevent surges. If this does not help, it may be time to consult with an electrician.

Dips and Sags in Power

Like electrical surges, dips and sags in the electrical supply may be caused by electrical items you have plugged in that are cheap or lower quality. These tend to pull a lot of power when they are switched on. This may also occur because of an arc flash, so work with an electrician to learn more.

Light Switches That Don't Work Properly

Dimmer switches that are not adjusting the light in your home property may be caused by bad workmanship or sub-par practices. If you have recently moved into a new house and some switches are not activating anything, this could indicate the switches are superseded, and the fixtures are removed. It may also be a fault in the wiring, circuit, or outlet. Work with an electrician if you have noticed issues with the switches found in your home.

Circuit Breakers That Trip Often

Higher wattage items, such as hairdryers and microwaves, may trip circuit breakers. This is especially when there are other power-consuming items used on the same circuit. Remember, circuit breakers are made to protect your home and you. If it does trip, it is a sign that it is doing its job properly.

Try to think about what was being used when the circuit tripped. If you had a hairdryer plugged in, consider using the low power setting. Another option is to limit the electrical usage on one circuit while higher wattage devices are being used.

An Overloaded Circuit

A huge cause of regular circuit breakers tripping is if the power boards become overloaded. Most apartments and homes, even those that are newer, do not have enough wall sockets to handle a large home entertainment setup. If the home's circuit breakers have tripped often, it may be caused by an overloaded circuit. Some tips to help prevent this include avoiding daisy-chaining your power boards, removing devices that aren't being used, spreading out your electrical devices, and staying mindful of how you are connecting devices around the house.

Lights That Are Too Dim or Bright

Have you noticed some lights are too bright, while others seem too dim? If so, there are two possible issues. One is that there are different wattage bulbs installed. Another issue could be bad main neutral connections. This is something that will keep causing problems until an electrician has fixed it.

When it comes to electrical issues in your home, you should never ignore a problem. The longer you ignore the issue, the more problems that may arise. Calling a professional electrician for help as soon as an issue is seen can help keep the issue from getting worse and help ensure you feel confident that more serious damage will not occur in your home. Being informed is the best way to ensure that your home's electrical system operates properly and efficiently now and in the future.