Electrical wiring isn’t a problem for many homeowners… until it becomes a big problem. Faulty wiring can lead to power shorts, damaged appliances, or house fires. Proper preventative maintenance of your home, including regular inspections and knowledge of electrical wiring warning signs, can help you prevent damage and ensure your family’s safety.
How to Identify Electrical Wiring Warning Signs
While you can’t see much of your home’s wiring, there are several things that indicate something is amiss. Frequent circuit trips – when one room suddenly loses power – indicate that either you’ve overloaded the circuits for one of the outlets, or there is damage to the wiring. The previous homeowner may also have installed a larger breaker than the circuit is designed for. If you suspect that some retrofitting of your wiring has occurred, contact your local electrician immediately for an inspection and proper correction.
Clues from your home
You may notice that an appliance is “live” – that is, when you touch it you get a little “zing”. This indicates that the electricity isn’t safely contained. Unplug it, and have it inspected. If you notice dimming or flickering lights, after you’ve changed the light bulbs, this may also indicate issues with the wiring in your home. Make sure that you are using the correct amperage and bulb type for your fixtures, however.
Where there’s smoke…
If you notice small burns or charring around an outlet, or the cover plate is hot to the touch, this is another indicator that something is wrong. Hearing a faint buzzing around an outlet another warning. Have it inspected immediately, and do not use it until then. These signs often indicate a faulty device, loose wiring inside the box, or arcing between the wire conductors and the device, box or cover plate.
Even the faintest whiff of burnt plastic or something inorganic burning can be a serious problem. If you smell this or notice burnt insulation in your attic (or anywhere, really, but many attics aren’t finished, and the insulation is exposed); these are serious electrical wiring warning signs. Call an electrician ASAP.
Unfortunately, many electrical hazards aren’t discovered until it’s too late. Protect your family and the investment you’ve made in your home. A professional electrical inspection is the best way to discover hidden wiring hazards in your home. To learn more about the electrical wiring warning signs, get in touch with Tim Kyle Electric. You can talk to an expert about new installations of lighting and wiring, among other things, for your home or business.
About Tim Kyle Electric
Tim Kyle Electric has been delighting our customers with responsive, trusted and professional electrical services since 1986. We provide residential, commercial and solar power services and are experts in our field. Our team of professionally trained employees uphold our core values of honesty, respect and integrity. We are available 24/7 for your electrical servicing needs. Get in touch with us today to discuss your next electrical project.