How to Safely Check Your Home for Electrical Issues
At some point or another, we’ve all had to deal with power outages in our homes. While some outages happen due to a problem with the utility company’s power grid, some outages may happen due to a fault in your house’s electrical system. If all of your neighbors have electricity in their homes and you don’t, this is a clear sign that your house has an electrical issue. If you’re thinking of troubleshooting the electrical problems in your home by yourself, there are certain precautions and measures that you must take. On the other hand, if you need to buy power supplies, you can try and visit Bravo Electro for their products.
To keep you and your family safe and prevent potential fire hazards in your home, these tips will help you understand how to safely check the power issues in your home.
Power Surges
Have you noticed sudden electrical surges in your home when high-power electrical appliances like an air conditioner or a refrigerator are switched on or off? The motors and compressors of these appliances require so much energy to turn on or off that the brief power requirement disturbs the power supply and can cause an electrical surge. If you’re facing frequent power surges in your home, the chances of damage to the electrical system increase. The devices may also overheat and even catch fire. A surge protector, also known as a surge diverter or surge suppressor, can help in diverting the spikes in voltage safely to the ground and away from the appliances. By choosing the right surge protector for your home, you can prevent potential accidents to property and reduce the risk of serious injury.
Electrical Overload
Older electrical service panels can overload when an appliance with a high power demand is switched on. The dimming of lights when the device kicks in is a major sign that the electrical services panel is being overloaded. If you consult a good residential electrician, they’ll point out that the cause for such overloading is that too many electrical appliances are drawing power from the same circuit. One way to prevent your electrical system from overloading is to plug the appliances into different circuits and distribute the load on the electrical service panel. But if the problem still persists, contact an electrician because some things are best left for the professionals.
Cords and Outlets
You should regularly check the electrical cords and outlets installed in your home. Over time and with continuous usage, electrical cords tend to develop cracks and kinks. While inserting cords into outlets, make sure they are tightly plugged into the sockets. If the cords remain loose in the outlet, you should change the outlets to ensure the cords fit snugly. When you’re working with extension cords, depending on whether you are using them indoors or outdoors, choose the length and weight of the cords accordingly. If you have any unused outlets in your home, make sure to cover them with a plate or childproof caps. And most importantly, if you have any outlets near your pool area or bathroom, you should get ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent potential hazards.
Light Bulbs
It is common for light bulbs to cause shorts or sparks if they are loosely fitted. Flickering lights can get pretty annoying very quickly. Although, you can fix the issue long before it gets troublesome. You can start troubleshooting by checking whether the bulbs are tightly fitted or not. If they are screwed in properly, then cross-check the wattage of the bulbs and the fixtures they are fitted in.
If the wattage tally doesn’t match, the bulbs can overheat and even cause a fire. In case the wattage is correct, simply replace the old bulbs with some new ones. If the new bulbs start flickering too, you might need to change the cord or the outlet. An electrician can easily do it for you if the task seems too difficult for you to carry out.
It is important to be vigilant about the condition of your home’s electrical system. If you come across any issues regarding the power supply in your house, get it fixed as soon as possible. Delaying or overlooking electrical maintenance may cause serious damage to your house and put your family members at great risk. Always exercise caution while dealing with electricity or electrical appliances. Replace any bulbs that get hot fast, switches that tend to flicker, or any device that gives you mild electric shocks whenever you turn it on. Most importantly, avoid overloading the electrical service panel with too many appliances in one circuit.
Last but not least, you must be informed about the condition of the fireboxes in your house and how to use them. If you don’t have any experience or knowledge about electrical repairs, please do not attempt it yourself because it can be dangerous to you and the people around you; in that case, it’s best to hire a professional instead.