Your home's electrical system requires constant monitoring. Even when it's working properly, problems can pop up from time to time, creating dangerous situations for your home and family.
The best way to prevent residential electrical hazards is to be proactive. A proactive approach to electrical safety requires taking deliberate action to manage or eliminate problems that increase the risk of electrical accidents happening at home. This requires keeping a lookout for potential red flags.
With that in mind, here are some of the most common signs of electrical trouble that you mustn't ignore.
Issues with your electrical outlets
Electrical outlets are what supply the voltages you need to plug in and use various home appliances. If you notice anything strange with your electrical outlets — for example, if they feel warm, produce a burning odour, or are sparking — you should get them checked and repaired.
Electrical outlet problems are often a sign of an underlying house wiring issue. If the wiring that supplies electricity to an outlet is loose or frayed, it may cause overheating or sparking, which can pose a serious threat to the safety of your home.
If you see the signs of a faulty electric socket, you should stop using that socket and arrange to have an electrician diagnose and fix the problem.
Issues with your lights
If the lights in your home keep blinking, dimming or flickering inexplicably, you shouldn't overlook the problem. Before jumping to the conclusion that you're facing an electrical emergency, check to make sure that you don't have a loose light bulb. Lights can blink, dim or flicker simply because the bulb is loose in the light socket.
If you don't have a loose light bulb, then it's likely that you have an overloaded circuit. If you've plugged in too many appliances on the same circuit as your blinking or dimming lights, the lights may have difficulty staying bright and steady.
Fortunately, the problem requires an easy fix: unplugging some power-using appliances to ensure the amount of electricity being drawn remains within the maximum allowable voltage. If your lights continue to act up, don't hesitate to bring in a fully trained electrician to sort out the issue.
Learning how to identify signs of electrical problems will help you reduce or eliminate electrical dangers in your home. Also, make sure you find a residential electrician you can call when you have an electrical emergency in your home.
Contact an electric repair contractor to learn more.