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5 Common Electrical Problems in Your Home

Oct 28, 2021

Electrical problems are one of the most common home issues. If you have electrical problems in your home, they may affect more than just your lights, outlets, and appliances. Electrical problems can lead to fires or shocks that could injure you or someone else. It's important to know what type of electrical problem you're dealing with so that you can take steps to fix it as soon as possible! Here is a list of five common electrical problems found in homes today.

1. Outdated or Damaged Wiring

Over time, your wiring can become damaged or outdated. The insulation around the wires could get nicked and fray over time. This means that you have looser connections where electricity is passing through. If this happens, there's a higher chance of the wire getting too hot and starting a fire or someone receiving an electric shock.

For safety reasons, you should have your wiring checked at least once per year by a licensed electrician to make sure it's up to code and in good condition. This will reduce the risk of fire and injury and lower your energy costs - outdated or damaged wires require more electricity to run.

2. Faulty Outlets

Most people have a few outlets in their homes that don't work. Outlets can become damaged from too many plugs being pushed into them or even from water damage. The wiring going to the outlet can also be faulty, which means electricity isn't passing through efficiently and safely.

If you find an outlet that doesn't work, it should be replaced immediately. You don't want to run the risk of damaging your appliances or starting a fire by not properly checking the outlets in your home.

3. Faulty Switches

A switch is a device that controls the power to an outlet or light fixture. If you find that a switch doesn't work, there could be problems with its wiring connection, which means electricity isn't safely passing through the switch.

Switches also get damaged by water over time and will need to be replaced if they are faulty.

4. Faulty Circuit Breakers

When too much electricity flows through a wire, the wire heats up to dangerous levels. This is called an overload. A circuit breaker senses this unwanted heat and quickly shuts off the power before fire or injury can occur.

Circuit breakers fail when they are overloaded too many times by turning on appliances that are too powerful or too many appliances running at once. If you find that your breaker switches on and off frequently, it's time to have an electrician check your home's electrical system.

5. Faulty Ground Faults

According to Safety Now ILT, 25% of people in the United States are unaware of the function of their GFCIs. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) protect against fatal electric shock by shutting off the power in an outlet when a short circuit or ground fault occurs.

A GFCI is designed to detect any kind of imbalance between the current flowing in and out of the device, so it's important that all connections are secure and not frayed. If you find that your GFCI is continually turning off and on, it may be faulty. Your electrician will need to check out the issue and fix any loose connections or replace the device as needed.

There are many common electrical problems found in homes today. If you have any of these issues, contact a professional electrician to come and check them out for you! They will be able to identify the source of the problem and make the necessary repairs or replacements.


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