While it often goes unnoticed, electrical wiring is an essential component of household power. When your wiring is in good condition, you don’t have to worry about safe and reliable electricity. When your wiring is faulty, your home is exposed to everything from power surges to fires. We have created a guide to help you detect faulty wiring in your home.
Do You Have Faulty Wiring In Your House?
Want to know how you can spot faulty wires in your home? Check out the top eight signs.
1. Frequently Tripped Circuit Breakers
Circuit breakers are designed to trip when they become overloaded with electrical demand. If your circuit breakers trip frequently, you likely have more appliances and devices than they can handle. Schedule an inspection so your local electrician can confirm the problem and offer a solution.
2. Flickering Lights
Flickering lights are a sign that your circuit breakers can’t keep up with the electrical demand placed on them. Call a licensed technician to see if an electrical component needs to be repaired or replaced.
3. Buzzing Sounds
Noticeable buzzing sounds from your circuit breakers or appliances are a sign of faulty wiring in your home. Have a professional electrician come out to take a closer look.
4. Frayed Wires
Frayed wires serve as a potential risk of electrocution and house fires. They could be the result of natural wear and tear, a rodent problem, or another underlying issue. Contact Snell to have your frayed wires replaced with brand new ones.
5. Aluminum Wiring
Aluminum wiring was the industry standard for household electrical installations in the 1960s and 70s. However, after a series of house fires over subsequent years, aluminum wiring was flagged as a potential fire hazard. If your home was built during that period and the electrical wiring hasn’t been replaced since, you need to schedule an installation service ASAP to protect not only your home but also your family.
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6. Warm Outlets or Walls
If your electrical outlets or walls are warm, this is an indicator of faulty wiring in your living space. To keep your house safe, contact a licensed electrician to perform an inspection of your outlets.
7. Smoke Near Appliances
Smoke appearing near your appliances may be the result of an electrical fire caused by your home’s wiring. We recommend exiting your home until an electrician arrives to address the issue.
8. Burning Smells
Your home’s electrical wiring should never produce a burning smell. If it does, you may have a fire on your hands. Call an electrician for help, and stay outside until the issue is resolved.
3 Common Household Electrical Issues
Having household electrical issues? Chances are, one of these three problems is the reason.
1. Circuit Breaker Issues
Circuit breakers protect your home’s electrical system from damage by tripping when the electrical demand is too much for them to bear. Tripped circuit breakers are your warning that something isn’t quite right. It could be the result of too many appliances in use at the same time, or it could be a sign of underlying electrical problems. The only way to know for sure is to have an electrician take a look.
2. Electricity Surges, Sags, Or Dips
A power surge is a significant increase in power, which elevates the current flowing through your home’s electrical system. If your electrical system experiences a power surge, you can install surge protectors to defend it against unexpected declines in power. Sags and dips are occasional decreases in voltage that cause your lights to dim temporarily—also known as a brown-out.
Read More: Top Reasons Your Power Outlet Stopped Working but the Breaker is Not Tripped
3. Scarce or Dead Outlets
Not having enough outlets puts excess electrical demand on your existing outlets, making them more susceptible to surges and more likely to trip circuit breakers. In the case of scarce outlets, your options are to either install additional outlets or use durable extension cords. Avoid using any dead outlets altogether.
Reliable Electrical Repair Services
Our team of licensed technicians can help you fix or replace faulty wires in your home. We offer exceptional electrical services for homes in Sterling and other areas of Virginia. In addition, we offer a variety of dependable HVAC repair services such as furnace repair, air conditioning installation, furnace tune-up, and boiler repair. Our team can help you with mild to severe electrical or HVAC issues in your home. Find the service you need, and schedule with us today.