Electrical Safety 101

3 Signs You Need a General Electrician to Repair the Electrical Wiring in Your Home

by David Hart

The electrical wiring in your home is important in many ways. That's why you should always ensure you inspect it quite often to notice any problem it could be developing. Usually, if electrical wiring is improperly done or develops any issues, it may cause a lot of problems, including a house fire. However, identifying faulty wiring or any problem with the electrical system isn't enough; you also need to know who will fix it. 

And although you might want to find out what's wrong with your electrical system and handle the problem yourself, you should avoid doing that. Instead, please find a general electrician to handle it once you notice any of these signs. 

Dimming or Flickering Lights 

Although some electrical problems are more serious than others, this doesn't mean you should overlook the minor ones. Dimming lights are among the electrical problems most homeowners ignore. Lights flicker due to various reasons, like a bad light bulb. They also dim when you connect major electric appliances like those involved in heating and cooling. 

It's also good to know that lights could also flicker when there is faulty wiring or damaged electrical equipment and power lines. When the lights begin to flicker or go dim, many homeowners install new light bulbs and switch off the electrical appliances to resolve the problem. However, if the problem persists after doing all this, you need to talk to an electrician and let them handle the issue. 

Unusual Burning Smells

It's common to experience a burning smell at home sometimes. The smell occurs mainly when a socket is burned or blowing up. Unfortunately, you may not know the electrical flaws or issues causing the burning smell. And although it's easier to assume the problem will end without any professional intervention, it's a bad idea because it may lead to major electrical problems at home.

The unusual burning smell can be due to melting wires. If the electrical issue is not resolved soonest possible, it may cause an electrical fire. If you notice a burning smell from the socket, it's advisable to disconnect everything from the circuit and manually trip the breaker. Then, contact an electrician to come and resolve the electrical issue.

Frequent Blown Fuses or Breaker Trips

A fuse may blow out for several reasons. Usually, your fuse will blow out when you overload the circuits or use appliances with high power demands. However, if it blows out even when it's new, then you have a major problem. The discolouration on the fuse could also indicate a problem with the wiring deep inside the walls, which is why the fuse may blow out. If the breaker trips, do not put anything inside the breaker box to keep the circuit on since this could cause an electrical fire. Calling an electrician to fix the wiring system is the right thing to do.

A defective electrical system or wiring at home can be dangerous in various ways. For example, it can damage several appliances or even cause electrical fires. So always be on the lookout for signs indicating that your electrical system has a problem. If you identify any of the signs above, call a general electrician to fix the problem.

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