It’s frustrating having to deal with frequent electrical issues in your home. It’s disruptive and can put a damper on the day. Issues like flickering lights and electrical fires are common problems that can seriously impact your quality of life. Some issues can damage your home and possessions and pose a severe safety risk to your family.
When experiencing frequent electrical issues, find out why they’re occurring. With electrical work or problems, it’s never a bad idea to call in the professionals. Here are some of the reasons electrical issues keep on happening:
The Electric Panel is Overloaded
The main electrical panel is the heart of the home’s electrical system. All the power coming from the utility company first goes to the panel before distribution throughout the house. You can have smaller panels, called subpanels, which help distribute the electricity in larger homes.
If too many devices and appliances draw power from the main panel, it leads to an overload. It results in blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers. One way to know if your panel is overloaded is if you have to replace the fuses or circuit breakers very frequently. Schedule an electrical panel upgrade in Woodlawn, TN, or near you. When carrying out the exercise, analyze the size of your home and electricity demands.
Faulty Wiring Often Causes Frequent Electrical Issues
If your home was built or renovated more than twenty years ago, it’s possible that the electrical wiring is no longer up to code. Old and faulty wiring is often blamed for frequent electrical issues. One way to know if the wiring is up to date is to check if the manufacture date is stamped on the wires. Electric wires produced before 1987 don’t have the date stamp.
Another way to know is to look for physical signs of wear and tear, like cracks or frayed wires. Also, if you have aluminum wiring, it’s time to change to copper. Aluminum, although not illegal, overheats, rusts, is not up to the current codes, and could cause an electrical fire.
Poorly Designed Circuits Can Lead to Frequent Electrical Issues
If the electrical system in your home isn’t designed correctly, it can cause all sorts of problems. For example, if the electrical load isn’t evenly distributed throughout the house, it can lead to circuit breakers tripping. To avoid this, make sure the electrical system is designed by a professional. Have the engineer designate the rooms that need more electricity versus those that don’t.
Loose Outlets Can Cause Frequent Electrical Issues
If an outlet is loose, it can cause sparking, a common cause of electrical fires. To fix this, simply tighten the screws on the outlet cover. If that doesn’t work, replace the outlet entirely.
Besides this, if you have too many devices plugged into one outlet, it can cause an electrical fire. To avoid this, have enough outlets in each room. Don’t just plug devices into the first available outlet but consider the number of appliances using electricity simultaneously. Also, note that some devices need more voltage to run, so they should have specific outlets.
Outdated Appliances
Another possible cause of your frequent electrical issues could be due to outdated appliances. As technology improves, appliances get better at using electricity. If you’re still using an old fridge, it will use more electricity than the new ones. It might also not be compatible with your home’s electrical system, leading to frequent electrical issues.
Replace older appliances with newer, energy-efficient models to save electricity costs and stay safe. The devices will need less maintenance as they will break down less frequently and last longer.
Damaged Cords
Replace an electrical cord immediately if you detect cracks or fraying. Damaged cables can cause electrical fires. They’re also a safety hazard when they dangle from the floor, causing an electrical shock. To prevent these dangers, make sure your cords have a strain relief where they run through an outlet or panel.
Improper Lighting
If you have the wrong light bulbs in your fixtures, you can have an electrical fire. Soft white bulbs are the safest, as they produce less heat and give off a warm light. Never use incandescent bulbs in an enclosed fixture, as they can overheat and cause a fire.
Trees Near Service Lines
Having trees in your yard close to the power lines is a recipe for disaster. The branches can fall and damage the lines, causing a power outage or an electrical fire. Trim or altogether remove any trees near power lines.
Schedule Regular Inspections
Sometimes, it’s not easy to detect the cause of frequent electrical issues. However, a professional can look at your home’s electrical system and determine the problem. Regular inspections and maintenance prevent electrical fires and other electrical issues.