Common Electrical Problems That Require Troubleshooting from a Residential Electrician

Unless you live fully off the grid and like to party like it’s 1799, you rely on electricity to power everything from your refrigerator and hot water heater to your cell phone and television. Unfortunately, many older homes have faulty or inadequate wiring, especially for the larger electrical loads that today’s appliances demand. Hiring an electrician is a smart way to deal with common electrical problems. If you suffer from any of the issues below, call an electrician right away:

• Frequent surges: Power surges can occur for a number of different reasons, like lightning strikes, malfunctioning appliances or damage to power lines. Even if they only last a second, they can cause serious damage to your devices. If you’re experiencing frequent power surges, it may be a problem with one or more of your electronics, or an issue with the wiring itself.
• Malfunctioning dimmer switches: Dimmer switches are a great way to control the lighting in your room—but if your dimmer switch functions more like a strobe light, it was probably improperly installed. Call an electrician for assistance.
• Overloaded circuits: You might already know how important it is to spread out your electrical devices. If you don’t, you can overload a circuit and trip the breaker. Never daisy chain surge protectors or power boards, and try to find different circuits for high wattage items.
• Frequently tripping circuit breakers: Speaking of high wattage devices, when you use larger appliances at the same time, on the same circuit, like hair dryers or microwaves, your circuit breaker may trip. If you notice frequent tripping even though you’ve spread it out, an electrician may be required.
• Power dips: Power dips are the opposite of power surges. You might notice flickering lights or other signs that your electronics aren’t getting enough power. Have an electrician inspect your wiring if this happens often.
• Unusually high electric bills: If your bills have skyrocketed, and the rates in your area haven’t changed, an electrician can help troubleshoot the problem.
• Electrical shock: Electrical shocks are a very obvious sign that something is very wrong. If you or a family member have experienced an electrical shock—and you weren’t doing something dangerous like sticking a fork in a light socket—call an electrician right away.
• Recessed lighting going in and out. Recessed lighting is usually equipped with a safety device that cuts power when the lights get too hot. Either you’re using an inappropriate bulb wattage or the insulation in the ceiling is too close to the light.
• Frequently burned-out bulbs. Similarly, if your light bulbs frequently burn out too quickly, you’re either using too much wattage or there’s a problem with your wiring.
• Grounding problems. If your electrical system isn’t grounded, you need to have an electrician install a GFCI unit immediately.

If you’ve noticed these common electrical problems, reach out to a residential electrician to help troubleshoot. Wilkinson Electric Inc. is here to assist you with all of your electric issues. Get in touch with us today to get started.

Categorised in: Electric Contractor

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