Electrical issues are serious. Not only can they lead to many problems in your home, but when left unresolved, electrical malfunctions are among the leading cause of house fires. Some electrical issues are small and that you may be able to fix on your own, but some will create a much larger issue and require the assistance of professionals. If you’re dealing with anything more than routine maintenance or a simple repair, hiring an electrician will always be the best choice. However, if you need a little more incentive, here are five sure-fire warning signs that calling a professional is your best move.
Exposed Wiring
Whenever wiring is exposed, it becomes a safety hazard for everyone in the home. Whether it’s an open splice that hasn’t been properly boxed or just some wiring that has slipped out of its protective housing, it needs to be resolved immediately for everyone’s safety and the wellbeing of your home and the rest of the electrical system. You'd be surprised at how fast something simple can get out of control when it comes to wiring. Don’t wait to find out for yourself. Call an electrician immediately.
Sparking Outlets or Switches
Although it might seem like a simple issue that doesn’t warrant concern, whenever there are sparks, there is a serious risk of an electrical short. This is most commonly seen when plugging or unplugging things from the outlet, but it can happen with switches and other electrical fixtures, as well. If there are sparks, you need to stop using that particular outlet, switch, or fixture and call for a professional repair as soon as possible.
Burning Smell
Anytime you are using appliances or outlets in your home and you notice a burning smell, you need to stop what you are doing and disconnect the electricity immediately. This burning smell could be the start of an electrical fire or a wire short that is going to spark and create a disaster if left unresolved. As an additional precaution, check the source of the problem (outlet or switch) for black marks or any appearance of burning. Feel the walls around the area to ensure that they aren’t hot to the touch, which could indicate a fire that has started in the walls.
Repeated Circuit Breaker Trips or Issues
If your circuit breakers or your electrical panel need attention, you could experience frequent trips of the breakers and other complications. Whether you keep losing power in one area or you pop a breaker every time you try to use a certain outlet, it warrants attention from a professional electrician. This could be a sign of something major, but it may also be a minor issue that can be easily resolved.
Flickering Lights
This usually seems like a non-threatening issue to most homeowners. In fact, several people spend years living with flickering lights without so much as a second thought. However, this could be an indicator that there is a short in the system or that the system simply is overloaded with too many devices requiring power. Either way, it’s going to be important to have it addressed immediately.
Electrical work is one area where you should never just “wait and see” what happens. The risk of fire, shock, and other potential hazards is far too high. If you experience anything on this list or any other serious electrical events, you will want to contact a qualified electrician right away to have the issue addressed and properly resolved so that you can protect your home and your family. Check out these expert electricians in Perth for an example of a high level of customer service and quality work.
