When it comes to home repair issues, many of us in Northern California are guilty of ignoring the problem and hoping it will just go away – which never happens. It’s a silly way to handle things, but sometimes you just don’t want to deal with the hassle of home maintenance. Unfortunately, with 400 deaths in the U.S. annually from electrical fires, ignoring your home electrical repairs is just not an option.
Signs Your Home May Soon Need Electrical Repairs
1. Light bulbs
If you’re going through light bulbs like water, this could be a sign of an unhealthy electrical system. If you have a lot of blow bulbs and you notice that some lights are dim while others remain bright, this could indicate a degenerative problem in the system. Also, remember to check that the wattage of the light bulb doesn’t exceed the maximum for the fixture.
2. Scary lighting
When lights share a circuit with an appliance – like a window air conditioner – it’s not uncommon for the lights to dim or flicker as the appliance kicks on. Once the appliance is “up to speed” the problem is usually resolved. This was more common in years past, and still is in homes with much older systems. Regardless, if the lighting in your house looks like something from a scary movie, you probably need electrical repairs.
3. Light switches and outlets
If an outlet or switch isn’t working and you’ve already ruled out a blown fuse or circuit, it’s probably “bad.” Often this is caused by wires coming loose, possibly from slamming doors or other wall-rattling activities.
4. Blowing fuses/circuit breakers
Finding that you’ve blown a fuse (or circuit breaker) is annoying, but for most of us it’s a rare occurrence. If your home experiences a larger than normal number of blown fuses this is probably an indication of overloaded circuits and the need for professional electrical repair, including adding a new circuit. If your home has a true “fuse box,” remember to use only the correct size and type of fuses for that model.
5. Worn out electrical outlets
Outlets that have been used frequently over many years may be worn out. If a plug doesn’t hold well in the outlet, or if you need to “jiggle” the plug to get the lamp to turn on, the outlet needs replacing. Unplug everything from the outlet and contact a professional. Worn out electrical outlets like these have caused injuries and fire.
6. Sparks and burning smell
If you think there is a burning smell coming from an outlet or light switch don’t ignore it. Contact a professional immediately. If you see a blue spark coming from the outlet this is (somewhat) normal. However, frequent sparking is not normal, and neither is a burning smell coming from the outlet (or a switch). Contact a professional immediately. Either of these may indicate overheated wiring and even the danger of fire.
Be Safe!
Know and watch for these signs that your home may need electrical repairs. Don’t ignore the problem until it becomes dangerous and costly.
If you have any questions about the safety of the electrical system in your home, or for a review of your home’s entire electrical system contact an expert Chico electrician at Experts In Your Home.
Stay safer by never trying these electrical jobs yourself (FREE download):
Related Articles:
Questions to Ask Before Attempting a DIY Electrical Repair
4 Ways to Avoid Electrical Problems This Winter
