Electrical problems in your home aren’t something for you to mess with. It’s a particularly serious matter to put into your own hands. Especially when you know that you’re not an expert, this isn’t the time for you to DIY because in your home, you want everyone to be safe. Many severe injuries due to faulty electrical connections in the house can be preventable, had the owner been prudent enough to call for professional help.
If you’re in doubt whether or not you need to hire an electrician, the safest route to go is always to hire one. Especially when you’re no way an expert when it comes to electrical matters, you have to be sure. To convince you even further, here are signs that you need expert electricians Colorado Springs, to check on your home:
1. Lights Flicker
When you switch on your lights, typically, they’ll never flicker. If they do, then that means you’ve got an underlying problem with your lights. When you see lights that start to flicker, stop using them. Not only will they cause you a headache, but you’ve also got to keep it off to stay safe. If the light is connected to a plugged device such as a floor or desk lamp, then unplug it as well.
Here are possible electrical problems that may be happening, at the onset of flickering lights:
- Loose light plug
- Loose wirings
- Switch issues
- Sensory overload
- Meter box problems
- Deteriorating wiring
At its first onset, it may not yet be a major hazard. But, if you keep it that way for a long time, you may lose your home’s power. You wouldn’t want a small problem to turn into a huge one and a more expensive one like that.
2. Damaged Wires In Fuse Box
As you go about with maintaining or cleaning your home, it’s also worth checking your fuse box is still in order.
When you see wires that are damaged or singed, then these need replacing. Rather than doing it yourself, it’s best to have it accurately and professionally done by a Colorado Springs electrician. By the professionals, the fuse box is also referred to as the service panel or breaker panel. This works as the central switchboard for the entire electrical systems in your house. It receives the power from the utility firm, then distributes it in your entire home.
First, these damaged wires can affect the electrical connection of your entire house. Then, if left to persist, it may also be a significant fire hazard.
3. Overloaded Or Warm Electrical Outlets
If your electrical outlets are working just fine, they shouldn’t feel warm. When it does, it means that your outlets are overloaded. Take note of the temperature of your electrical outlets whenever you plug or unplug an appliance. If you feel that it’s warmer than usual, then take note that this isn’t healthy.
Generally, a warm electrical outlet may mean that you’ve got an overloaded circuit. Perhaps you’re plugging too many appliances in the whole house at once, and your circuit is now racing to provide the power that you need. It can also be the case of a bad connection, which poses a potential risk of fire.
When this happens, you’re going to want to call an electrician to be sure. In minor issues, your circuit may only need resetting. But in severe cases, the electrician will have to make big changes also with your entire electrical connection at home.
4. Burning Smell In The Air
This symptom is one of the most apparent signs that you need to call an electrician. When you’ve plugged an appliance, your house will suddenly feel like something is burning. When this smoky scent begins and even progresses, take it as an alarming sign of danger.
At the outset of a burning smell in the air, it’s a non-negotiable fact that you have to call an electrician. But, while waiting for them to arrive, there are some things that you’ll also have to do on your own, to protect your safety. This includes:
- Turning off the power in your home as soon as possible. Don’t switch it on until the electrician arrives and can address the problem.
- Unplug all the appliances as soon as you’re safe, as you’ve already turned off the power.
5. Fuse Blows Or Explodes
Going even more in-depth and worse than damaged wires in the fuse box is when the fuse or circuit breaker explodes. This will need to be replaced as soon as possible. In so doing, this job is also better left to the experts. If you’re not trained in understanding how electrical wirings work, it will take you some time to understand what caused your fuse box to blow. The more that you play around it, the more that you’re causing danger. Hence, better just let the professionals do their job.
Here are primary reasons why your fuse may have exploded:
- Overloaded circuit. The circuit is drawing and creating more electrical loads than it was meant to handle.
- Short circuit. This is one of the more severe problems that you can face with your fuse box. A short circuit happens when the hot wire (black) touches the neutral wire (white). In this instance, the tripping mechanism gets activated.
- Ground fault. This occurs when a hot wire comes in contact with a ground wire. This is very dangerous, especially in areas of your home where there are high levels of moisture. This includes, for instance, your kitchen and your bathroom.
- Arc fault. This happens when there are loose screw terminal connections in your switches or outlets.
Conclusion
Having shown you these signs, now you’re better aware of possible electrical problems in your home that you may have been turning a blind eye to. Rather than taking these matters into your own hands, you should leave it to the professionals instead. Electrical issues, even when they may seem seemingly small to you, should always be left in the hands of the experts. Else, it may result in dangerous hazards that may risk your family’s safety, too.
