Electrical problems are bound to crop up in any home. Finding the source of the issue and deciding how to address it can help you stay safe and literally keep the lights on.
Problems You Can Fix Yourself
- Broken light switch: if you disconnect the circuit powering the switch, remove the cover plate, you can perform a safe replacement.
- A tripped circuit breaker: these occur when something causes current in your wiring to spike, but the circuit is restored by simply turning the breaker off and then on again. This may be a sign of a more serious problem. When turning circuit breakers back on, put your hand on the circuit breaker and turn the breaker off, leave your hand on the circuit breaker and avert your eyes and turn the circuit breaker back on. If the circuit breaker trips again, call the professionals here at M.R. Electricians, Inc.
- An appliance that causes short-circuits: some appliances have faulty resistors, broken or loose internal wiring or heating elements that can trip your entire home’s wiring when you use them, at which point you should simply look for a replacement.
- Loose Receptacle (Plug or Outlet): being careful to disconnect the circuit to the outlet you’re adjusting, you can unscrew the cover plate, add in some extra outlet shims to make the receptacle more sturdy, and then replace the cover.
Problems Best Left to the Professionals
- Frequent and unexplained light bulb blowouts or flickering: this could be a sign of overheating caused by improper light fixture placement or corroding connections.
- Frequent and unexplained power trips: these point to your entire electrical system being regularly exposed to voltage demands it can’t sustain.
- Warm power outlets or switches: Although sometimes a dimmer switch may get very warm to the touch, if this temperature changes this may be a sign of either severely damaged wiring or system overload, both of which can be very dangerous.
You shouldn’t take electric problems lightly! And when you need some professional problem solvers, M. R. Electricians are here to help. Reach out to our Florida team at (727) 422-0391, or to our Maryland team at (301) 871-0477.
