10 Common Electrical Problems And Solutions
Electricity is one of the essential elements of modern life as we need it to power things ranging from our refrigerator and bedroom lamp to our numerous laptops and HVAC system, the latter being especially important to keep running as it cools us on our hot, sticky summer days.
As our Mister Sparky electricians work throughout Niceville, FL, and the surrounding areas, we come across all types of electrical problems. Here’s a look at 10 common electrical problems and solutions that will resolve them.
1. Lights Too Dim, Too Bright or Flickering
Your lights regularly being brighter or dimmer than they should be or flickering is a significant issue that you should take note of. That’s because this situation could be the result of a poor connection, and sparking and a fire may result from it.
That said, there might be an easy fix to rectify this, such as if the situation’s related to the wattage of your light bulbs. Ensure that that number’s equal to or less than the socket’s max wattage, and also check that the bulb’s not defective in any way. But if it’s the connection that’s defective, you should call a professional.
2. The Light Bulbs Are Burning Out So Fast!
Light bulbs are normally designed to work for hundreds or thousands of hours. If yours are repeatedly not getting anywhere near that amount of time before burning out, that could also be the result of a loose connection somewhere or your usage of light bulbs with a wattage that’s too high for your socket to handle.
However, if light bulbs with appropriate wattages are burning out too quickly, you should seek the services of someone who’s trained in electrical work to fix this.
3. My Light Switch Doesn’t Work
A related issue can be your light bulbs being fine in and of themselves but your light switch not working; when you go to turn on, dim or brighten your light, nothing happens.
If this is the case, once again, check your light bulbs, both their wattages and if they’re defective. Also see if your circuit breaker has caused that part of your home to go dark for this reason and has affected that light switch. If neither of the related potential solutions resolves this, it’s likely best to call the pros.
4. There Are Too Many Power Surges
Power surges can happen from time to time, especially during our common lightning storms. However, experiencing many more of them than you used to, particularly if there’s no weather impacting the conditions outside, is a concern.
If this is the case for you, a wiring issue or faulty power board could be causing those surges. The only viable solution in that case would be to call a professional electrician, who will check your wiring and power grid, acts that aren’t part of a safe DIY project.
5. I’m Getting Shocked
If you’re getting shocked when you plug something in or turn something on, you should be concerned as that can be the result of faulty wiring as well.
This is also not a DIY fix for most. A professionally trained electrician should handle this.
6. My Home Has Too Few Outlets
If you have an older home, it’s likely that you have too few outlets for all of your modern electrical needs, resulting in your likely using extension cords to meet those demands.
However, if you’re utilizing an extension cord that’s up to the demands, such as a 14-gauge or thicker one, that should be enough to handle those electrical needs. Another option is to get more outlets installed.
7. These Outlets Are Ungrounded
Some older outlets are also ungrounded. This is the case for you if you have any with only two prongs. However, there’s no reason for concern in this situation as long as you don’t use a three-prong plug with an adapter as doing that can result in electrocution as well as a destroyed device.
To fix this potential problem, switch out your two-prong receptacles with modern, grounded ones.
8. My Outlets Don’t Have GFCIs
Another potential issue is outlets that don’t have GFCIs (ground-fault circuit interrupters), which quickly shut down your currents in wet conditions, such as often exists in bathrooms and kitchens. A lack of GFCIs, particularly in those areas, has potential to be quite dangerous and should be rectified as soon as possible.
Many homeowners, on their own, add GFCIs to areas that don’t have them while you can always hire a pro instead and have them take care of this for you.
9. Plug Won’t Stay In
If what you’re plugging into your outlet won’t stay in, that’s usually the result of worn contacts. Try to plug that same thing in somewhere else. If it sticks the second time, it’s likely that the first outlet is the issue.
You can replace the receptacle yourself or hire a professional to do so for you.
10. Why Is My Circuit Breaker Tripping So Often?
Is your circuit breaker regularly tripping right after you turn on something that uses a significant amount of power, such as your HVAC system or dishwasher? If yes, a potential fix that you may be able to do yourself is spread out those energy hogs more effectively across your circuits.
If that’s not causing this or it is and you’re unable to do that potential fix, a pro should be consulted. They’ll either redistribute those appliances or take care of your overloaded circuit, short circuit or ground fault.
Who Should I Call About Electrical Problems? Mister Sparky, That’s Who
Don’t put up with any malarky from your electrical system, and call Mister Sparky. We’ll safely take care of your electrical problems so that your home environment is safe once again. Not only that, but we guarantee to show up on time, and we guarantee your satisfaction with our work.
