When talking about electrical systems in your home, even small problems can quite easily become hazardous. Problems range from flickering lights to overloaded circuits, and all these common electrical problems give quite a big headache to the homeowner or even cause serious safety hazards. It is very important to recognize and troubleshoot them, but once it goes beyond a simple fix, that’s when it’s time to bring in the experts.
That’s where the help of a reliable company like Foxwood Electric comes into play. With years of experience in home electrical repair and electrical troubleshooting, Foxwood Electric is dedicated to providing safe, reliable solutions for all your electrical needs. Whether it is about dead outlets or a complete panel upgrade, their team of licensed experts can handle it in a professional and caring manner.
In this blog, we will walk through 10 of the most common electrical problems in homes, lending you practical solutions that may help solve these issues.
1. Lights flickering or dimming
A flickering light is not only annoying but can be an indication of a loose connection or a more serious problem with your wiring.
How to Fix It:
First, make sure the bulb is screwed in properly. If that’s not it, then try replacing it with a new bulb. If the flickering goes across multiple lights, then it may indicate a loose wire or a problem with the circuit. This is where home electrical repair gets tricky and may call for a professional to inspect the wiring and resolve the issue.
Pro Tip:
The first thing you want to do when doing work on light fixtures is to turn the power off. If you’re not sure about something, it’s always best to consult with a licensed electrician for the right troubleshooting.
2. Circuit Breakers That Trip Too Often
Does it trip when running some appliances or a number of devices together? This is mainly because your circuit has overloaded.
How to Repair:
Unplug some of the devices plugged into the overloaded circuit. In such cases, if the breaker keeps on tripping, you may have to redistribute the electrical load or upgrade your electrical panel for modern-day demands. A panel upgrade should only be entrusted to a licensed contractor. For example, Foxwood Electric specializes in home electrical repair and has the ability to upgrade your system to avoid potential overload situations later on.
3. Dead Outlets
Dead outlets can be a real pain, especially when someone needs them to charge their phone or keep an important appliance running. In many cases, it’s due to loose wiring or even just a tripped GFCI outlet.
How to Fix It:
First, check if there’s a GFCI outlet and hit the reset button.
Still dead, check your circuit breaker to see if it has tripped. Resetting the breaker may give it back power. If this does not work, then the wiring system is the problem, where professional electrical troubleshooting comes into place.
Pro Tip:
Never overlook dead outlets. Bad wiring is a fire hazard and needs immediate fixing.
4. Hot or Warm Outlets
A warm or hot outlet is representative of a serious safety concern. This is indicative of faulty wiring or overloaded circuits.
How to Fix It:
Immediately stop using the outlet and unplug any devices plugged in. Call a licensed electrician, such as Foxwood Electric, to check the wiring. It is an urgent affair in home electrical repair because overheated outlets can cause electrical fires.
5. Light Bulbs Burning Out Quickly
If your bulbs are burning out much faster than they should, it might be because of too much wattage, poor ventilation inside the fixture, or faulty wiring.
How to Fix It:
Double-check that the wattage of the bulbs being used is correct for the fixture.
In some cases, recurring issues can involve loose wiring on a circuit or fixture problem that requires more professional electrical troubleshooting.
Pro Tip:
Compared to normal bulbs, LEDs last really long and use way less energy.
6. High Electricity Bills
An unusually high electricity bill may be an indication that the electrical system in your house is functioning below par, due to antique appliances, inadequate insulation, or simply overloads on your electrical system.
How to Fix It:
Replace old appliances with new energy-efficient ones. A lot of the newer electrical appliance’s models use just a fraction of the electricity that older ones use. Insulate your home: When your home is well insulated, less energy is required to heat and cool your home, thus lowering the bills.
Let a licensed contractor do a home energy audit to see what’s really going on with the energy use. This can be done by Foxwood Electric as a part of their home electrical repair services to make sure your system runs efficiently and safely.
7. Buzzing Noises from Outlets or Switches
If you get a buzzing noise when a switch is turned on or something is plugged into an outlet, that’s a bad sign. Electricity supplies shouldn’t make any noise.
How to Fix It:
It is important to switch off the power supply to the affected area. Call an electrician immediately. Buzzing might indicate loose wiring or a failing breaker-either way, it is dangerous.
Pro Tip:
Never ignore the humming or buzzing sounds of any electrical fixture. These are generally early warning signs of large problems.
8. Blown Fuses
Blown fuses are a common fact of life if you are using an older home that uses a fuse box rather than a circuit breaker. This generally happens in situations when a system is not able to keep up with modern electrical loads.
How to Fix It:
It is advisable that you upgrade your fuse box to a modern circuit breaker system. The risks of blown fuses will be reduced, and it is much safer and more reliable for the protection of your electrical system. Such home electrical repair upgrades are specialized in companies such as Foxwood Electric.
9. Dimming Lights When Using Large Appliances
If your lights dim whenever you start an appliance like the air conditioner or refrigerator, that is a good indication that your home’s electrical system is overloaded.
How to Fix It:
Large appliances should be put on their own dedicated circuit so these devices get all the power while not hindering your entire house. Other examples of common electrical problems include new circuit additions and panel upgrades.
Pro Tip:
If your house does not have a different circuit for each major appliance, you may want to upgrade your electrical system.
10. Outdated or Damaged Wiring
Older homes have a greater risk of knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, two of the most common electrical problems that may potentially cause short circuits, power outages, and even fires. These systems were not designed to bear today’s electrical demands.
How to Fix It:
Rewiring an older home may be a costly but necessary investment in safety. Also, one should hire a licensed contractor to do the work so it is done correctly in accordance with safety standards and local codes.
Foxwood Electric provides electric troubleshooting, rewiring older homes to bring your system up to today’s safety standards.
Conclusion
Every household faces some very common problems related to electricity, which, although minor, may get out of proportion if treated the wrong way. These could be solved with minor DIY fixes, but for the more major issues, professional home electrical repair becomes necessary. This involves hiring a licensed contractor like Foxwood Electric, who helps in keeping your home safe and the electrical system efficient.
From electrical troubleshooting to a panel upgrade, even complete rewiring, Foxwood Electric has the experience and expertise to promptly and properly address your needs. Contact us today for a consultation so we can solve all your common electrical problems in a safe and professional manner.