When it comes to household electrics, your safety must come first. Flickering lights, high bills and damaged appliances can all be a sign of electrical problems on your home. Identify some common problems from the list below, as well as the best solution.
Frequent Electrical Surges
Electrical surges can be caused by anything from lightning strikes, damage to power lines, faulty appliances and bad electrical wiring in the house. While an actual surge only lasts a microsecond, frequent surges can damage the electrical components connected to your home.
If you experience frequent electrical surges, the culprit is probably an electrical device connected to the home grid or the wiring itself. Try removing any cheaply made devices or power boards from the outlet to see if this prevents the surges. Otherwise, it might be time to consult a professional electrician.
Reduced Power
Like electrical surges, sags and dips in electrical supply can often be attributed to devices connected to your power grid that are faulty or made with substandard materials and draw a lot of power when they are turned on.
Faulty Light Switches
Dimmer switches that don’t adjust light properly can often be attributed to shoddy workmanship or sub-standard products. If you have just moved into a new house and find switches that don’t seem to activate anything at all, this might be a sign the switches have been superseded and fixtures removed, or it could be a fault in the outlet, circuit or wiring. Consult with an electrician if you’re experiencing issues with switches in your house.
Circuit Breaker Tripping
High wattage items like microwaves and hairdryers can trip circuit breakers, particularly when other power consuming items are used on the same source. A circuit breaker is designed to protect you and your home, so when it does trip, that’s a sign it’s doing its job. Look at what you were using when it tripped. If it was a hair dryer, try using the low setting. Alternatively, limit the electrical usage on a single circuit while high watt devices are in use.
Circuit Overload
One of the biggest causes of frequent circuit breaker tripping is the overloading of power boards. If circuit breakers in your home are tripping frequently, it could be down to circuit overload. Prevent this by:
- Never daisy-chain power boards.
- Remove devices that aren’t in use (for example, phone chargers still draw power even when not connected).
- Spread your electrical needs around. Don’t overburden a single circuit.
- Be mindful of how you connect devices around the home – what’s in use, and what is unnecessary.
Electric Shocks
An electrical shock is a nasty experience. Even though they are usually mild, something like a static shock, they remind us that electricity is dangerous. Electrical shocks typically happen when you turn a device on or off. The issue could be with the appliance, or it could be in the wiring. It might be best to speak with an electrician.
High Energy Bills
Reducing the cost of your electrical bill could include:
- Switching to a different provider
- Identifying electrical devices that may be causing power surges
- Patching leaks in the hot water system
- Unplugging appliances and chargers when not in use
Call us today at Plumbspec for all of your electrical needs on 0417 555 325
