What Are the Most Common Electrical Problems? | Tips from Your Hurst, TX Electrical Service Provider
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There are a lot of things you have to stay on top of when you own a home, including keeping your home’s electrical system in good shape. You don’t have to be a professional to keep your electrical system working as long as you hire a good electrician to help. However, the first step to knowing when to call electrical services is knowing how to recognize electrical problems in your Hurst, TX, home. To make things a little easier for you, here are some of the most common electrical problems along with some tips for recognizing them.
High Electrical Bill
If you notice your electrical bill has suddenly spiked and there’s no explanation for it (such as using more heat or adding a new appliance to your home), there’s a good chance an electrical problem is to blame.
There are numerous causes of a high electric bill, including damage to wiring or a circuit in your home, outdated devices that are using more power than they should, or a leakage in your electrical system. No matter what you think your problem may be, enlisting the help of professional is the way to go. Electricians know how to fix things the right way without putting themselves in danger.
Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips
When it comes to electrical problems in your Hurst, TX, home, there are a lot of potential problems surrounding your circuit breaker. Turning a circuit breaker back on is easy; all you have to do is open the main electrical panel in your home and flip the switch that’s turned off or partly off. However, that doesn’t mean you don’t need electrical services.
The problem with simply flipping a circuit breaker back on is that you’re not addressing the root of the problem. While there are plenty of things that can cause occasional circuit breaker trips, frequent trips are a sign of bigger problems. If you notice the same circuit breakers tripping time after time, calling professional electrical services is the best way to get it taken care of.
Regular Bulb Burnouts
Some electrical problems are scary while others are simply an annoyance. Frequent light bulb burnouts are more of an annoyance than anything, but they can leave you without light and spending way more than you should on replacement bulbs. The fact of the matter is, though, that there’s an electrical problem behind those frequent burnouts.
There are numerous reasons your light bulbs may burn out frequently, from high voltage to improper air circulation and a bulb that’s attached too tightly. The first thing you can do is check to make sure the light bulb socket isn’t too damaged or old; however, that’s the extent of what you should do yourself. Your best course of action is to have electrical services look for potential problems.
Loose Electrical Outlets
Have you ever tried to plug your phone charger into an outlet, only to have the charger partially fall out of the outlet and lose its connection? This is a problem a lot of people have, and it has to do with the actual outlet beneath the outlet cover. Over time, the contact points on electrical outlets tend to wear out a little bit, which makes them looser.
Fortunately, fixing loose outlets is among the easiest of the electrical services. All an electrician needs to do is remove the outlet covers and outlets that are loose, replace the outlets and wire them up, then put the outlet covers back on. You can expect all your outlets in your Hurst, TX, home to feel like new again since they won’t have the same damaged contact points as the old ones did.
Outdated Wiring
This problem is a little harder to recognize because it’s hidden, but outdated wiring is a big problem when it comes to electrical fire hazards. When you hire a professional for electrical services, make sure you have them take a look at the wiring in your home to ensure it’s up to date and not putting you and your family at risk.
Because outdated wires have so many problems associated with them, there are some warning signs you may notice. For example, you may smell a burning electrical smell or see discoloration around the outlets, both of which are signs that things are getting too hot. Other signs include electrical noises, dimmed ceiling lights and smoke coming from appliances. If you have any of these problems, call professional electrical services for help today.
Flickering Lights
Flickering lights are one of the most annoying problems you can have in your Hurst, TX, home, but they could be a sign of something bigger. One of the more common (and more serious) reasons for flickering light bulbs is loose wiring, which an electrician can diagnose fairly quickly.
If you notice any lights around your home flickering, make a note of it and have an electrical services expert take a look at it. All a professional has to do is remove the light and take a look at the wiring it’s attached to, but they can take proper safety measures to make sure they aren’t putting themselves at risk. As a general rule of thumb, you should never do any electrical work in your home beyond turning circuit breakers back on when they’ve tripped.
A Simple Fix
Making sure your electrical system is in good shape at all times is a lot of work, but getting the help of a professional makes it a lot easier. Now that you know which problems to look out for, you know when you need to call an electrician.
Choosing the right electrician is important, and Tioga Plumbing, Electric & Glass makes that easy. We provide reliable electrical services in Hurst, TX, to help you make sure you’re minimizing electrical fire hazards in your home. If you’ve got a problem you need us to fix, give us a call at (817) 484-5356.