10 Common Problems Around The Home That Electrical Contractors Find | Arlington, TX
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Electricity is not only a necessity but also a central pillar of modern living. However, despite its utility, electricity has also been the culprit of both major and minor disasters around us. When considering household electric appliances, safety is of paramount importance. Access to qualified electrical contractors within Arlington, TX, who can quickly identify and solve common home electrical problems is a significant step towards promoting safety within your home.
In this post, we highlight ten common electrical problems around the home to look out for:
Frequent Electrical Surges
Electrical surges may result from a damaged power line, poor household wiring, a lightning strike. An electrical surge causes a massive increase in a power line that increases the current to your outlet. Frequent electrical surges may damage electronics and home appliances and diminish their life expectancy.
In this instance, the culprit is often the wiring or an electrical device connected to the home grid, which electrical contractors can quickly rectify.
Circuit Overloading
An overloaded circuit is one of the leading culprits of a circuit breaker that trips often. Homes and apartments that cannot cater to the amount of electricity they require experience circuit overloading. Some simple solutions for this electrical problem include avoiding overburdening one circuit, removing devices that aren’t in use, and mindfully connecting devices around your home.
Power Sags and Dips
Power sags and dips are attributed to the electrical devices connected to your grid that may draw a lot of power, be made with substandard materials, or are faulty. It is experienced as the lights dimming and then getting bright again.
Electrical Shocks
Electrical shocks are a nasty and unfortunate experience. At worst, they are very dangerous, but normally they are a mild shock that reminds you to be cautious when handling electricity. These shocks are caused when an appliance is faulty or the wiring is not correctly done; therefore, it is essential to be careful when turning them on and off. It is advisable to speak to electrical contractors around Arlington, TX, if your appliance has this problem.
Unusually High Electric Bills
High electrical bills are frustrating and pretty expensive. During the summer and winter, higher bills are expected due to the constant use of the HVAC system. However, if your bills are unusually high in the off-season, you need an electrical contractor to check it out. An easy way to handle this would be to:
- Identify and fix devices causing a power surge.
- Unplugging devices that aren’t in use.
- Repairing damaged circuits and wiring.
- Use surge protectors and GFCI outlets.
- Using a smart or digital thermostat that can be programmed to regulate temperature appropriately.
Breakers That Trip Often
Circuit breakers provide a means to protect your home. When your breakers trip, it’s a sign that your home is protected. High wattage appliances such as hairdryers and microwaves can trip your circuit breaker, primarily when used from the same source. Identify what led to the circuit trip and use a low setting. Limit the electrical usage on a single circuit, especially when using high-watt devices. Consult electrical contractors if these tips do not help manage the circuit breaker.
Uncovered Junction Boxes
A junction box houses a ton of wires that are interconnected and is usually installed during construction. The box should have a cover, and when left uncovered, it could lead to electrical shocks, which could cause safety issues. You need to contact electrical contractors to cover the junction box to restore safety within your home.
Fewer Outlets
Most houses heavily rely on extension cords and power strips to access power. However, extension cords are designed for temporary use. If you intend to use it for permanent use, try using a UL-listed surge protector or at least a 14-gauge heavy load cord. Avoid daisy-chaining two extensions together, and call electrical contractors if you need more outlets.
Lights That Aren’t Right.
Lights can let you know whether you have a bigger underlying issue. Lights that are brighter or dimmer than others could indicate you have a poor neutral connection, or they simply have different wattage. Flickering lights are a sign of frayed wiring. Some lights have an inbuilt safety feature that automatically turns off when the bulb overheats. Your lights may burn out before they should for different reasons:
- The insulation is close to the light source
- The wattage is too high
- Too much wattage on a dimmer switch
- Poor wiring on the circuit
If your lights are displaying any of these problems, you need to call electrical contractors to take a look.
Overcircuted Panel
An overcircuted panel is a fire hazard to your home. An electrical panel is designed to accommodate a certain number of circuit breakers. You need to determine the right panel for your home depending on the maximum load capacity. The circuit breakers fit into slots, and you can tell how many yours holds by prying the panel door open and taking a peek. Using a tandem breaker in one slot instead of two single pole breakers is a code violation. To avoid this, contact professional electrical contractors to add a sub-panel or replace the existing one with a bigger model.
While the above electrical problems that could be experienced at home aren’t exhaustive, they are an excellent place to start when ensuring the safety of your loved ones.
Tioga Plumbing & Electric is your premier provider of electrical contractors in the area. We offer both commercial and residential electrical installation and repair services. With over 60 years in the service industry, we value and greatly prioritize customer satisfaction. Our HomeAdvisor top-rated award portrays our commitment to superior work practices, services, and value. We offer fast on-time services and prompt emergency services 24 hours a day, all year long. Get in touch with us today for more information about our commercial and residential electrical solutions.