Everyone experiences electrical problems at some point, and it can be hard to know what to do. Do you try to handle it yourself, or should you contact a professional? Some problems might be easy to fix on your own, but others might be dangerous and require an expert. To help you out, the team at Crowe Electric is here to discuss some common electrical problems and when to go DIY or choose a pro.
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Flickering Lights
One of the most common electrical problems we encounter on the job is flickering lights (or lights that intermittently cut out). If the problem is only occurring with a single light bulb, the problem is most likely the bulb is broken or is not screwed into the socket all the way. Screw the light all the way in, or consider cleaning the connector plates on the bottom. You can also switch from incandescent to LED lights to address flickering.
If multiple lights in your house are flickering, that is a sign of a deeper electrical problem, like faulty wiring or a bad circuit. In these cases, you should always contact a professional. Frayed or faulty wiring can create electrical fires if you are not careful. A professional electrician in Milton can inspect your wiring to locate any faults.
Bad Outlets
Another one of the most common electrical problems is bad electrical outlets. If your outlet doesn’t work, the first thing you should do is reset its ground fault circuit interrupter. GFCI outlets have a red “RESET” button on the front that you can press to reset them and restore power. GFCI outlets most often trip after power surges or outages.
If the outlet itself feels loose, you can usually fix the problem by tightening the outlet cover screws or the center screw. Tightening these screws pulls the cover close to the wall, holding the outlet more securely.
If resetting your outlet doesn’t work, it has loose plug connections, or it has burn marks near its hole, stop using it and call a professional for replacement. Bad outlets are more than just an inconvenience and can be extremely dangerous. When outlets are bad, they can get extremely hot, and the plastic outlet face might start to warp. You should also contact a professional if your outlets feel hot to the touch.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
Frequent tripping is another common electrical issue that may require a professional response. A circuit breaker tripping all the time usually means there is either too much electrical load on the circuit or the circuit wiring is faulty. Sometimes, you just need to reduce electrical usage on a particular circuit to stop the risk of breaker trips. For example, you should try to run energy-intensive appliances like space heaters on outlets that have their own dedicated circuits.
If you suspect you have a defective circuit, you should contact a professional. Replacing a broken circuit in your electrical panel will require interfacing with wiring, which always carries the risk of shock or electrical fire.
High Electrical Bills
Faulty wires and overloaded circuits can waste a lot of electricity, causing your power bills to suddenly spike. If you find that your bills are significantly more expensive than normal, you most likely need some serious electrical work. Running a faulty system will not only run up your electrical bill but can potentially cause even more electrical damage.
DIY or Professional for Common Electrical Problems? General Advice for South Shore Residents
As a general rule of thumb, you should always contact a professional if you feel uncomfortable about doing any electrical work. Electricity can be very dangerous, and professionals understand how to work with it to minimize the risk of injury. Professionals can also ensure correct installation and repair so you won’t have to worry about making more fixes in the future if you mess up the initial work.
If the problem relates to non-electrical parts of electrical fixtures or replacing fixtures, you should be okay with handling the job on your own. As soon as your project involves live wiring, you should consider calling a professional. If you are making electrical additions, you need to contact a professional so they can handle permitting.
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If you have any more questions about common electrical problems, contact Crowe Electric online today or call to schedule an appointment! Read our blog to learn more about other topics, like how much electricity a swimming pool uses.