Remedies for Common Electrical problems

Electricity is a modern convenience that’s easily taken for granted until homes are plunged into darkness during power outages. Thomas Edison introduced electricity to the world in the late nineteenth century. After Edison’s home received a private electric system, the first American home to be powered by hydroelectricity was in Appleton, Wisconsin in 1882. Despite that, just 50 percent all homes in the United States had electricity by the beginning of the twentieth century.

Electricity is now a standard home feature. And when something goes awry with a home’s electrical components, homeowners may need to act fast to restore things to proper working order. Certain electrical problems are common in residential homes. Even homeowners with do-it-yourself skills should bring in an experienced electrician when their homes develop electrical problems, as electricity is nothing for novices to play with. Here’s what to look for and how to remedy common issues, courtesy of East-West Electric, Inc., Safe and Sound Electric LLC, and American Home Shield.

• Flickering lights: Flickering lights merit attention. While lights can flicker when bulbs are not screwed in tightly, this also could be a sign of a faulty connection that is creating arcing and overheating. A failure to address flickering lights might lead to a fire. An electrician can inspect wiring and fixtures to see where the problem may lie, and replace any necessary components.

• Degraded electrical wiring: Older homes may have aging electrical wiring that is worn out in places. This can cause arc faults, which occur when an electrical current veers off its intended path. Arc faults can cause electrical fires. Installing arc-fault circuit interrupters on the circuit panel can help. Traditional circuit breakers only trip with overloads and short circuits. AFCIs continuously monitor flow and will only trip during unwanted arcing conditions.

• Insufficient power: Those who reside in older homes might experience insufficient electrical power. Electrical grids homes are built using the technology of that time and may not be capable of handling the many devices that homeowners plug in today. Circuits may trip often when one or more electrical devices are used on the same circuit. The only way to remedy this issue is to replace the existing electrical system with a restructured one that can handle the supply of power.

• Buzzing sounds: Electrical outlets and switches in a home should always operate silently. Buzzing or unusual sounds heard near switches and outlets indicates there is a problem. Turn off the power to that fixture and consult a professional electrician to see what might be the issue.

• Warmth around light fixtures: Hot ceiling lights or other lights could mean that a homeowner is exceeding the recommended bulb wattages for that fixture. Check the bulbs, and consider switching to compact fluorescent or LED bulbs that do not produce as much heat as incandescent bulbs.

• Higher energy bills: Energy bills can spike for a number of reasons. Outdated electrical devices that draw a lot of power or a leakage in the system are two potential causes of higher energy bills. Homeowners can call an electrician to assess the energy efficiency of a home and suggest changes.

Electrical problems might be common, but they should be dealt with promptly for safety’s sake.

Metro