Risks related to electrical wires have become quite a phenomenon these days. In fact, electrical hazards are one of the major causes of injuries and fatalities in homes.
So, whether an owner or a tenant, you must be aware of the five major yet silent signs that indicate that your home’s electrical system needs to be inspected and fixed. It’s a crucial part of your home maintenance and improvement, so you must take this extremely seriously.
Let’s not waste more time and get on to the five signs to save your property from electrical hazards.
Inspect Your Home’s Electrical System to Mark These 5 Signs
When you live in a house for ten to twenty years, its wiring system may be quite worn out.
For instance, you may be able to see flickering lights, tangled-up electrical connections, loose boards, and so much more. The message is simple – your electrical system is in dire need of repairs.
Don’t be like those who kill time in the belief that such problems can wait. Because the truth is, they can’t. They need your immediate attention.
So, be a responsible owner or tenant and take things into your hand. Look out for these major signs below, so it’s not too late before you work on your home’s electrical system:
1. Watch for Flickering Lights
Is your house getting a little creepy these days? What else could cause those flickering light issues?
Wait up. Put a little effort to check the wiring behind those blinking lights before accusing the phantoms. Maybe a loose connection or an expired wire could be the culprit.
If it’s a single light that flickers frequently, you can check and fix the wire by yourself. However, take no risk if multiple or all the lights are flickering.
The flickering of multiple lights may be traced back to the circuit, breaker box, or utility drop. Problems related to circuit breakers can have other repercussions as well. For instance, it can prevent your air conditioner or heater from functioning.
So, you’ll be smart to call an expert. Contact your nearest electrical mechanic today to check and fix the problems.
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2. Are the Outlets Getting Hot or Loose?
Let’s say your laptop keypad is getting heated. Should you be worried? You should be, but not as much as you’re supposed to be in the case of an outlet.
Get this straight. An outlet shouldn’t get hot. If it does, unplug your electrical appliance or any device right away. Continuing with the connection is too risky.
Don’t open and check the problem inside the outlet if you aren’t an electrical expert.
Another problem with the power outlets is loose holding. Over time, outlets may slightly come off their sockets. You’ll have a hard time plugging a cord into the outlet.
Struggling to plug the cord properly may tear the wires inside. This may lead to short-circuiting or other electrical hazards.
If the above two problems persist, call a technician as soon as possible to fix them.
3. Do You Smell Something’s Burning?
If you smell an acrid and sharp smell reminiscent of something burning in the house, check your power outlets, boards, and electrical appliances (if plugged in).
When the power heats up the electrical system, it can burn the wire and anything plugged into the outlet.
Burning is a surefire sign of an electrical hazard that needs immediate fixing. You never know whether the problem exists in a single outlet or multiple ones.
So, don’t wait until this problem worsens. Call an expert to fix and change the wires.
4. What’s with the Tangled Wires?
Mostly, tangled wires don’t bother us and we continue our daily work comfortably. But there’s a hint of electrical hazard when the same scenario is found inside boards, junction boxes, etc.
Who’s to blame for this mess? Obviously, the ones who’ve done the wiring for the house initially. It’s a clear sign of hasty, careless, and irresponsible wiring.
Messy wiring can prevent you from checking the condition inside power boxes, boards, and outlets. Hence, potential risks inside will linger and lead to accidents.
Forget the culprit for now and call someone who’s certified in electrical services. Find someone who knows the local electrical codes and can implement them when fixing the problem.
5. Are You Getting Shocks?
Getting voltage shock while touching any metal appliance isn’t fun at all. Sadly, more than a thousand Americans die of electrocution each year.
If you face such as situation, know that the electrical system isn’t grounded appropriately. It doesn’t matter if the shock you’ve experienced was at a low degree. Taking it lightly can lead to undesired events.
Kids, elders, or pets have a higher chance of getting electrocuted due to faulty wires. So, you must find the source(s) of the shock immediately.
Typically, ceiling fans, lamps, furnaces, etc., may show such static hazards. So, get those connections inspected and fixed as necessary by an expert electrician as early as possible.
You can contact specialized air conditioning and furnace repair service contractors to get complete help.
Bottom Line
It’s highly recommended that you spot the electrically hazardous points without wasting any time. Your ignorance of those subtle signs may cause irreparable accidents.
Keep your kids on watch as they play near power sockets and electrical appliances. Train them (if they are mature enough) to avoid hazardous points and how to handle a cord and outlet.
Never ignore the importance of a certified electrician. Get their professional help whenever you find something fishy with your home’s electrical system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Problems One May Experience Due to Flickering Lights?
You may go through a series of headaches, strained eyes, fatigue, lower visual activities, and much more due to constant flickering lights. There’s a chance you might develop some neurological issues over time as well.
The maximum risk of flickering lights may indicate a fire hazard. It’s mostly possible when you have heavier appliances at home, consuming more power than usual. This reduces the power supply to the light bulbs while risking the wiring itself. Hence, it may lead to fire accidents.
Should I Rewire My Home’s Electrical System Every Ten Years?
Not necessarily, but you should have it inspected before you purchase or rent a property. But if you’ve been living in a house for more than 20-25 years, it’s highly recommended that you conduct a wire check by the professionals. It also depends on the wire type you have in your house.
Normally, copper wire lasts for about a hundred years, whereas aluminum does for nearly 70-80 years. But if you notice constant hazards with electrical appliances or the wire sheathing battered, then conduct an inspection by all means.
What’s the Cost Of an Air Conditioner Repairing Service?
An air conditioner repairing service may cost you around $300-350 on average. The specific repairing service cost may range from $200 to $450 depending on the locality and AC type. The average cost may include system reboot, filter unclogging, cleaning the unit, filter changing, etc.
