COMMON ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FOR HOMEOWNERS
Many homeowners might not be aware that many common electrical problems are more than a simple annoyance, but are a sign that there are problems within your home’s wiring.
If you identify any electrical problems in your home, Transworld Electric’s licensed electricians can diagnose the problem in your home’s electrical system. Our licensed electricians offer electrical service in Mount Pleasant, SC, and the surrounding Charleston areas.
Below we’ve listed 10 of the most common electrical problems for homeowners and how to handle them within your home.
- Light bulbs are burning out at a high rate:
There are a variety of reasons why a bulb is burning out at a high rate. One of the most common reasons is that your light bulb exceeds the maximum wattage for the fixture. This will cause excess heat to build up and will cause the bulb to burn out quickly and can even lead to an electrical fire. Switching to a lower wattage light bulb or switching to a larger fixture or globe can prevent this overheating from occurring. This may not always fix the problem as there are a number of other reasons why your lights are burning out too often such as:
- Insulation is too close to the light
- Bad wiring on the circuit
- Bad wiring on the mains
In order to prevent electrical fire and save you the time and money of having to replace multiple burnt-out bulbs, we recommend hiring an electrician near you to help identify the real reason the light bulbs are burning out.
- Flickering or blinking lights:
Flickering or blinking lights is most commonly due to a poor connection along the circuit. If you notice the flickering or blinking lights throughout the whole home, this could be due to the main wiring connection having trouble. Also, if you notice that any of these fixtures look loose or insure, it’s time to call a licensed electrician.
- A set of outlets aren’t working:
If you have already tried to safely reset any breakers or GFCIs and they still don’t work, the problem could be a poor connection somewhere along a circuit. If you ever see an outlet spark or show any signs of blackening around the outlet plug, it should not be used and you need it to be inspected and replaced by a licensed electrician.
- Frequent tripping breakers:
This is usually a sign that the circuit is overloaded and using too much electricity. If you notice frequent tripping breakers, you need to hire an electrician near you to add a circuit or upgrade your electrical service to accommodate your power needs.
- Warm outlets or switches:
Warm outlets and switches are a serious safety concern and need to be inspected by a licensed electrician immediately. This is a safety risk and can lead to an electrical fire.
- Frequent power surges:
Power surges are caused by high-voltage disruptions in the flow of electricity and can damage any electronic devices that are connected. If you experience frequent power surges, it is recommended to have a licensed electrician check your electrical connections.
- No GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters):
A GFCI, Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor, is designed to prevent electric shocks. The NEC requires GFCIs to be installed anywhere near water including bathrooms, kitchens, garages, basements, and more. If you own an older home and do not have GFCIs installed, hire an electrician to install them immediately.
- Ungrounded Outlets:
Ungrounded connected are ones that do not have a grounding system and can be noticed because they only have two prongs. The grounding system provides a pathway to excess electricity in the event that there is a problem with the wiring, such as a short circuit.
- High Electric Bills:
If you’ve noticed a higher than a normal electric bill, it could be due to one of the following reasons:
- Wiring and circuit in your house may have been damaged
- Your power supplier might not be cost-effective
- Outdated electrical devices in your home that consume more power
- Leakage in electrical systems
- Brighter or dimmer lights:
If you notice that some lights are brighter than others or some are dimmer than normal, you may have different wattages in the bulbs or a bad neutral connection. If it is caused by a bad neutral connection, this will continue to cause problems for the home until it is fixed by a licensed electrician.
What to do if you notice these common electrical problems in your home?
If you have ongoing electrical problems in your home, Transworld Electric recommends hiring an electrician near you today. Hiring a licensed electrician can help you diagnose the electrical problems in your home and provide you with peace of mind.
Transworld Electric is a full service electrical contractor in Charleston, South Carolina. We offer residential and commercial electrical services in Charleston, Mount Pleasant, Summerville, and the surrounding areas. You can trust that our licensed electricians are prepared to safely handle all your electrical repairs and keep your home safe.
