The electrical system in your Kaufman, TX, home is an intricate system that provides power for things like appliances, lighting, electronics, and more. It isn’t until something goes wrong with this intricate system that you take notice of it. It’s important to call our team of experienced electricians if you’re faced with electricity issues. This is a dangerous scenario that should only be addressed by professionals. Here are some key warning signs that you should never ignore when it’s time to call an electrician.
Circuit Breaker Is Frequently Tripping
If you have one or more circuit breakers in your home that are constantly tripping, there may be an underlying electrical issue that needs to be addressed. You may have overloaded circuits in your home or are experiencing short circuits that require repair. You can try unplugging some of the devices that are being handled by that circuit to see if that stops the issue before calling our team.
Flickering Lights
You shouldn’t see your lights flickering frequently. If they are, there may be something more serious going on than a loose bulb. Loose connections or old switches may be to blame. An electrician can check to see if your circuits are overloaded. Pay close attention to see if all your lights are flickering at the same time or if it’s just a certain room or section of your home. This can help point us in the right direction when trying to find the problem.
There is a possibility that a voltage issue may be to blame. If we determine this is the case, your electricity company can help remedy the situation. They may need to make repairs or adjustments to your main distribution system. Load balancing is also an option.
The Smell of Something Burning
If you have an outlet, switch, or item in your home that smells like it is burning, immediately turn off the electricity to that circuit and call for assistance. There may be damage to your wiring that is causing the material on the wire itself to burn. Material inside your wall could also start to burn, which could lead to a house fire.
Spikes to Your Electrical Bill
We recommend that you monitor the information that is included on your monthly electricity bill each time you receive it. You’ll usually be provided with how much electricity you’ve used for that past cycle. You can compare this information to previous months and the same time last year. If that amount is steadily increasing and you don’t have a known cause for why that is, call our team. There may be damage to your home’s electrical system that is resulting in excessive draw.
Sparks or Arcing
You should never see sparks or arcing coming from things like switches, outlets, or your breaker panel. This is cause for concern and requires professional assistance immediately. If it’s safe to do so, turn off power to these circuits and your breaker panel to prevent injury or fire.
This issue may be caused by water being introduced into the outlet or switch. However, you may also have that circuit overloaded, or damage to the wires inside the fixture may be present. You may have had an incorrect installation of wiring take place, which can lead to problems later.
Outlets That Don’t Work or Exposed Wires
If you’ve recently moved into your home and have noticed certain outlets don’t work or that have exposed wires coming out of them, have a professional assessment of what’s going on. This can put you and your family at risk of electrocution. It’s more likely that a fire can start as well.
When Needing New Installation
It’s tempting to try to fix electrical issues in your home yourself to save money. However, electricity isn’t something that you want to work on yourself. There’s too much safety risk involved. Not only is it dangerous to perform the work, but incorrect installation leads to fire and electrocution risks months or even years later. If you need a room rewired, a new outlet installed, or lighting fixtures put in, reach out to our team for professional assistance.
Routine Inspections
If you’re considering purchasing a new home, having an electrician inspect the residence before making an offer is wise. If any problems exist, the owner will need to make the necessary repairs before the sale can be completed. There are local electrical codes that all homes must follow to comply. You don’t want to purchase a home that isn’t compliant, as this poses a danger.
If you’re going to be selling your home, consider having an inspection performed. You may not realize that you have things that are out of compliance with local code. We can make appropriate changes before you list your home that can prevent you from experiencing fines.
Buzzing Outlets and Switches
You should never hear a buzzing sound coming from your outlets or switches. The problem may be a loose connection or damaged wiring. There may even be a problem with your circuit breaker, or you may have rusty connections inside the outlet or switch.
Also, listen for any kind of clicking or snapping sound that may occur when you turn a switch on or off or plug something into an outlet. This can be an indication of bad wiring or short circuiting.
Frequent Appliance Malfunction
If it seems like your outlets are working correctly but you have appliances that are frequently experiencing issues. The problem could be that your wiring or electrical setup may be to blame. You may see problems with toasters, toaster ovens, microwaves, coffee pots, crock pots, and other small appliances first. These appliances are inexpensive to replace. However, other appliances that can experience power surges or electrical issues include things like stoves, washers, dryers, and dishwashers. which are more costly to replace. It is important to seek a professional to check your electrical system before you start experiencing major problems later.
Frequently Burning Out Bulbs
If you have incandescent bulbs in your home, they are designed to last approximately one year. LED lightbulbs usually last around 50,000 hours. Halogen bulbs last around one to two years, and CFLs have an extended lifespan of around six to nine years. If you have bulbs that aren’t functioning anywhere near these time frames, your electrical setup may be causing problems. Our professionals can check your fixtures to see if there is an issue with old wiring, surges, or damage that is resulting in your bulbs burning out more frequently than is normal.
Accurate Home Services offers routine electrical inspections, new wiring, breaker panel assistance, surge protection, electrical vehicle charging stations, and more. We also offer the installation, repair, and maintenance of heating and cooling equipment. We can help you address the quality of your indoor air quality as well, with routine duct cleanings, duct repair, air handlers, whole-house filtration, and much more.
Contact Accurate Home Services in Kaufman today to schedule an appointment for one of our electricians to inspect your home’s electrical system.
