It is never fun to go without electricity for a prolonged period since it is necessary for engaging in daily activities. To ensure your power is always running smoothly, you need to be on the lookout for these common issues and call an electrician immediately when you experience any of these. You can take help of reliable electricians in your area like Bates Electric and get the job done.
1. Exposed Wires
Many people attempt to fix this issue themselves. Still, it is a substantial electrocution and fire hazard, and its best to turn off the problematic circuit before trying to fix it. You can wrap electrical tape around the exposed area or call an electrical repair in Geelong to cover the wires to avoid fraying.
2. Flickering Lights
LED lights are more susceptible to flickering than others. In some instances, the light bulb may be loose in its socket, or the light switch is not appropriately connected to the bulb. When an appliance is turned on, and you notice the lights flickering, it may be due to loose wiring or voltage fluctuation. It is useful to call your electrician, since it may be suggested that you buy 130-volt light bulbs that can handle the higher voltage level. Loose wires are a fire hazard, so it is better to have an electrician check your home’s electrical wiring as a safety precaution.
3. Significant Electrical Bills
Your electrical bill may fluctuate due to seasonal changes; however, if the bill is consistently high, its probable that electricity is wasted without you knowing. Monthly bills can be lowered by fixing damaged circuits or wiring by licensed electricians in Columbia SC. Large appliances such as AC units and fridges can lead to power surges when their motors turn on and off, hence the reason for a high bill. You can help avoid this by changing the temperature levels to a level that prevents them from regularly cycling.
4. Odd Smell
If you notice any fishy or burning odors coming from the switches or outlets, switch off the power at the circuit breaker since the smell could be from an overload or wiring issue, which can cause an electrical fire. Contact your electrician to fix the problem.
5. Tripping Circuit Breaker
When the appliances and lights on a single circuit keep turning off simultaneously, it is generally due to the circuit breaker tripping. They are designed to switch off in the event of:
- Ground fault –when a hot wire comes in contact with a metal box or wood framing – resulting in electrical shock hazard in spaces that have moisture like kitchens or bathrooms. Installing GFCI outlets that detect ground faults and in turn, shut off power to an affected circuit can help with preventing electrocution or fires.
- Overloaded circuit –when too many light fixtures or appliances work simultaneously, the circuit wires heat, causing the breaker to trip and switch off the power. Older homes are more susceptible to this issue. As such, you’ll require an upgrade or adding a circuit to accommodate more wattage. It could be helpful to install a generator to ensure that it won’t disrupt your life too much while you get the problem fixed. You can find commercial backup generators for your business easily online. This can power the circuit breaker, and it will shut back off once your utility power comes back on. This ensures work can continue.
- Short circuit –when a hot wire (black) touches the neutral (white) or another hot wire. A short circuit can also be due to a wiring issue in a device or appliance that is plugged into an outlet on the circuit. An electrician must attend to the problem.