Hidden Plumbing Problems: What to Look for

Four Signs You Need To Hire An Electrician

21 October 2020

Herbert Chambers

Like just about everything else in your home, electricity is one of those things that is often taken for granted. You flip the light switch on and light magically appears until you turn it back off. Very little thought goes into how or even why it works.

Until it stops working, that is. When it does, you'll be glad you have an electrician on standby to take care of any emergencies you may encounter. Early detection is the key though, so if you notice any of the four signs listed below, call an electrician to stop by your house as soon as possible.

Flickering Lights

If you turn on a blender in your kitchen and the lights above the sink start flickering, that's indicative of an overloaded circuit in your room. Your home's electrical system is laid out like a grid, with each different circuit rated to handle a certain amount of electricity, so any spike above that rating — temporary or not — reduces power to the other items. It's not a major issue, but if left unchecked, it can lead to an overloaded circuit and loss of power.

Burning Smells

A burning smell in your home, aside from those scented holiday candles, is never a good sign since it means that there is smoke somewhere inside your home. Even a tiny flame or spark can ignite a tiny patch of insulation, so it's a good idea to turn off your home's power supply as soon as you smell smoke and call an electrician immediately. If you already see the fire, call emergency services as well.

Warm Outlets

Electricity is hot by nature, but if you touch your home's wall outlets and notice that they're warm, that means you have wiring that is faulty. Eventually, it will melt the outlet and cause significant damage, but it can also short out whatever appliance it's connected to as well. It needs to be fixed by an electrician sooner rather than later.

Breakers Tripping

Your circuit breakers in your home are designed to cut off the power at the earliest sign of a power surge so that your electricity doesn't get overloaded and start a fire. If you notice that your power is shutting off regularly, or that your circuit breakers are tripping all the time, you need to hire an electrician to figure out the source of the problem. Consistently turning the breakers on and off will damage your home's electrical system and can cause a short in your home.

For more information, contact an electrician today.

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