Common Electrical Problems Found in a Home

Your home is going to run on electricity. You use it to turn on your appliances, to help keep the lights on, and sometimes for your heating and cooling depending on how your home is set up. As long as everything is up and running well, you are good to go and you won’t even think about all of the components that make up the electrical system in your home. But when something goes wrong, you could end up in a lot of trouble. There are several common electrical problems found in a home. Some of the most common ones will include:

Electrical Surges That Continue to Happen

Anything from a faulty appliance and lightning strikes, improper wiring, and damaged power lines can lead to electrical surges in the property. Although a single surge is only going to last a few seconds and doesn’t take that long to come back on, if you allow that to happen again and again, it is going to cause some damage to your electrical system.

If you start to notice that there are some power surges that happen all time, then there is going to be a problem with either the wiring in the property or an electrical device that is connected to the main grid. You may want to talk to a professional to come in and make sure that it is done right.

Dips and Sags in Your Power

This problem is very similar to what you would find with electrical surges, but a little bit different. Often they are caused by low-quality or faulty devices that are connected to the grid in your home. These devices will often draw a lot of power away from the home when they are activated. This is why you may want to disconnect some of the substandard devices from the grid to help if this does become a problem. If that doesn’t seem to help, then consider hiring a professional to step in and help.

High Electrical Bills

You do not want to pay more for utilities than is necessary. If you notice that your electric bill is high, no matter what you try to do with it, then this may be a sign that something is wrong with the system. It could be the hot temperature outside causing the air conditioner to work harder, or it could be some of your appliances drawing more energy than they should.

You first need to identify some of the appliances that are consuming a ton of energy and watch them for a bit. You may want to unplug them if not in use to help out. You can also have an electrician come out and check all of the electrical components, fixing some of the problems if they appear.

Bulbs Burn Out Often

It is not a lot of fun to find out that your light bulbs are burning out too quickly. If this does happen, one of the first steps to help fix it is to check whether the wattage of the bulb that you choose is too high for the socket that you choose. If you are using a light bulb that is compatible where it is, then a loose connection in your socket is the next thing to check out. Faulty wiring and insulation that is really close to the light can be a problem as well.

Homeowners may find that it is hard to find and tackle some of these issues. If you are tired of having to replace the light bulbs all the time, then it is a good idea to consult with a professional electrician to take care of the issue and make sure that you get it fixed.

Outlets and Switches That are Warm

Your outlets and switches should not be warm when you touch them. If they seem hot, then this is a serious problem with your electricity. There are a few issues that can cause this such as damaged wiring and an overloaded circuit. When the outlet is struggling to keep up with the energy that an appliance needs, it can heat up and when ignored, may pose a risk of a big fire. When it gets warm enough, you may notice a burning smell coming from that area.

Do not wait too long to fix the problem. You need to turn off the breaker that goes to the outlet that is causing some problems. Then call a professional electrician to come out and take a look. Discontinue using the component until you have a chance to resolve the issue for your own safety and to protect the home.

The Switches Do Not Work

You expect your light switches to work a certain way when it comes to your home. But if you have a dimmer or a light switch that is not working well, this can be a problem. This is often due to low-quality parts or an installation that was not done right. A good place to start here is to check whether the light bulbs in question work somewhere else or not. You can also test the power outlet near a switch to determine whether that outlet is actually getting some electricity to it. If the switches are not activating anything at all, they may have been superseded. No matter the reason for this problem, you need to contact a professional to come in and get it fixed for you.

When you are looking to work on your electric in your home, you will need to make sure that you choose the right company. Your electrical work in the home takes time and a professional hand and when it is done the wrong way, it can lead to some dangerous situations that you need to worry about. That is why you need to trust our team at Cool Hand Electric. We are here to handle all of your electrical needs, no matter how big or small the issue may be. Contact us today to get started and make sure that your electrical work and home is as safe as possible.