Electrical issues are among the most common problems a homeowner has to deal with. Besides damaging your property, electrical issues can threaten lives. That said, it’s vital to contact a professional electrician anytime you think you might be dealing with an electrical problem. It’s also important to mention that an inexperienced person shouldn’t try solving electrical problems to avoid escalating the issue. From tripping circuit breakers to electric shocks to power overload, here are some common electrical problems experienced in many homes and how to fix them.
1. Circuit Breaker Issues
A circuit breaker is a gadget that protects your property against accidents that might result from overloads or short-circuiting. It’s designed to interfere with the current flow in the event of any fault. In short, a circuit breaker signals a homeowner when it detects an electrical issue.
If your circuit breaker trips regularly, it’s doing an excellent job of preventing overheating and fire accidents from overloading. However, if you think it trips more often without an explanation, you might be dealing with an extensive electrical problem.
If the breaker trips and nothing prevents you from assessing your electricity usage, go on and check what might be the cause of frequent trips. A circuit breaker often trips when one uses too much power when tackling daily chores. However, if this isn’t the case, it might be time to reach out to a professional such as Electrician Colorado to assess the issue and fix it accordingly.
2. Lighting Problems
Light bulbs burning out too frequently is a common electrical issue in many homes. If this is the case in your home, you should determine the cause and have it fixed to solve the underlying electrical issues. Light bulb burnout can result from:
- High voltage
- Tightly fixed bulbs
- Too high wattage
- Bad wiring
- Poor air circulation
Once you determine your light bulbs are burning out frequently, the first step would be checking if the holders are loose. If they aren’t and it’s impossible to diagnose the issues, leave it to electricians.
Besides bulbs burning out frequently, flickering, too bright, or dim lights are also common electrical issues in many homes. If you think some bulbs are too bright than others or some are flickering, there might be an underlying electrical issue. Nevertheless, it’s vital to note that not all bulbs consume similar wattage; hence some might be brighter depending on the wattage.
If the issue surrounding the brightness results from different wattage, there’s nothing to cause an alarm. However, if the issue is beyond that, don’t hesitate to call a professional.
3. High Electrical Bills
There’s a high probability that every home has gone through this issue. Even after using electricity moderately, you receive a suspiciously high electricity bill. Among the leading reasons behind too high electric bills include:
- Leakage in electrical systems
- Damaged wiring and circuits
- Outdated electrical devices that consume excess power
If you’re dealing with high electricity bills, don’t despair. There are seamless solutions that can help reduce the bills. For example, if your home uses outdated electrical devices, consider upgrading to current ones that are more cost-effective. If bills rise due to poor wiring or electrical system leaks, consider hiring electrical services.
4. Power Dips And Sags
If you connect electrical appliances to a low-quality or faulty power grid, there is a high likelihood of power sags and dips. If you turn on these devices under this circumstance, they consume more power than the device can withstand, leading to sags and dips.
When dealing with such an electrical issue, the solution should be replacing old devices with new ones.
5. Electrical Shocks
Have you or anyone in your home experienced electrical shock when turning an appliance on or off? Whether the shocks are severe or mild, they indicate an electrical issue with the power source or appliance.
In such a case, plug another appliance into the same socket and check if it’ll behave the same. If the shocks are still produced, call an electrician to fix the issue before someone is hurt.
6. Scarce Power Outlets
If your property has few electrical outlets, you might be dealing with a huge problem than being unable to charge your phone while watching TV or ironing clothes. Few electrical outlets mean too much dependency on existing outlets leading to power overload. When there’s power overload, you’re more likely to experience surges.
If your home has few electrical outlets, consider investing in heavy-duty extensions as you wait for a reputable electrician to install new outlets.
Conclusion
The above discusses the most common electrical issues experienced in many homes. However, the fact that they’re common doesn’t mean they should be ignored. If you experience any electrical issues, even if it’s minor, it’s vital to hire a professional since DIY-ing or ignoring it might cause you more harm than good.
