Common Electrical Problems in a Household
Your home should be a safe place for you and your family, but sometimes accidents happen and possible causes include overlooked and neglected electrical problems. If remain unsolved, it can take a serious turn and put your family at risk; that’s why it is necessary to address them immediately whether it’s an electrical installation or circuit breaker problem.
And while most of these problems can be fixed on your own, some issues are best left to the electrical professionals. So, if you have no experience or right tools, let the experts handle them.
Here are the electrical problems that commonly occur at home that you need to be aware of.
Circuit Breakers Keep Tripping
A circuit breaker is a switch that provides electrical safety by interrupting current flow once an issue or fault like overheating or excess current is detected. It trips occasionally to prevent damage and electrical fires. However, if it frequently happens, something is wrong and it can be an indication of another electrical problem.
The three most common causes why circuit breakers keep tripping are ground fault, overloaded circuit, and short circuit.
A ground fault occurs when a hot or active wire gets in contact with a ground wire. It also happens when there’s a piece of damaged or faulty equipment, and it’s quite dangerous especially in bathrooms and kitchens where the level of moisture is high.
On the other hand, an overloaded circuit happens when there are too many appliances or power-consuming devices running on the same circuit at the same time. The breaker trips to prevent overheating but when it regularly does, you have to move your other appliances or devices to other circuits. If the issue doesn’t get resolved after doing this, you may need an electrical installation or service upgrade for a new circuit.
And lastly, a more serious and dangerous reason for a tripped breaker is a short circuit. It occurs when a hot or active wire touches another hot wire or a neutral wire. As a result, a sudden increase in current flow happens that creates more heat than what the circuit can handle. Call an electrician right away when this happens as short circuits are a fire hazard.
Electrical Sags and Dips
Electrical sags and dips are sporadic drops or reductions in voltage. It happens when too many power heavy electrical appliances are switched on; thus, causing a power disturbance. It isn’t usually a problem if it happens once or twice but if it continues often, there could be an underlying issue which needs the attention of a technician.
Exposed Wires
Exposed wires are common especially when it results from an amateur electrical installation or work. They can be detrimental to your family’s safety if ignored as they pose fire and electrocution hazards. If you notice an exposed wire, you must first turn off the connection to the affected circuit before trying to fix it – or better yet, call a technician for repair.
Other common electrical problems in a household include electrical shocks, flickering or dimming lights, frequent electrical surges, light switches are not working properly, and warm outlets or switches.
Creating a protected and safe environment at home where your family can enjoy and relax should always be a top priority. And despite these electrical problems lurking around the home, most of these are preventable and can be solved with help from electrical professionals.
Be sure you’re doing everything to ensure electrical safety at home. Just remember these common electrical problems so that solutions can be quickly provided. And when in doubt or unsure of the process, don’t hesitate to call an electrician.
