Electric rates continue to rise across the globe, Australia has not escaped these price rises, leaving many people studying their electricity bills and usage.
But, what you may not be aware of is that some of this bill could be the result of electrical leakage. As surprising as it may be, your home can leak electricity in a similar way to it leaking water.
Of course, the main difference is that an electrical leak is much harder to see.
Before you start hunting for an electrical leak it is important to make sure you have the number of a good electrician in Sydney. Electricity can be dangerous if you have any doubts about working with it call the professionals.
Signs Of Electrical Leakage
The most common sign that you have a leakage problem is when your electricity bill starts to rise, with no discernible reason.
Before you assume you have an electrical leakage issue it is a good idea to consider what, if any, new appliances you have had. Any appliance that is left on standby will draw a small amount of power, the higher the number of appliances, the more likely it is that you’ll notice the difference in your electricity bill.
Assess The Issue
The real test for establishing electrical leakage is to turn everything off. By this, I mean everything electrical in your home, even the refrigerator. It won’t hurt it to be off for a few minutes.
Prior to turning all devices off, you should take a meter reading.
If you have an old-fashioned meter, you’ll be able to see the dial moving. If it is moving when you’ve unplugged everything then you have an electrical leakage issue.
Should you have a more modern meter and are unable to see the meter turning, simply take the meter reading and leave everything off for 30 minutes before checking it again. The reading should be exactly the same if it isn’t you have electrical leakage.
What Causes Electrical Leakage?
The most common cause of electrical leakage is when the current in your appliances crosses from the correct wire into the appliance or the earth wire. The current is then carried away to the earth, effectively causing you to leak electricity.
This is surprisingly common and is usually due to old wiring where the cable sheath is starting to disintegrate. It can also be due to bad wiring or even an old appliance starting to break down.
At this point, it is essential that you have a good earth. If you don’t, the current that is leaking into the shell of the appliance can find its way into your body when you touch the appliance; it will then travel through your body before disappearing into the ground.
In the process it can give you a nasty shock, that’s why you should be cautious when dealing with electrical issues. It’s advisable to call a professional, they know what they are dealing with.
You said,if you have an old appliance it will lead to current leakage? How do I know?