5 Common Household Electrical Problems Solved
Loose wiring? Dusty power sockets? Here's why an electrician can solve your household electrical dilemma and how you can prevent problems in the future.
1. Overloaded circuits
The problem:
Overloaded circuits occur when too many devices are plugged into an outlet at one time, placing too much pressure on the circuit and shortening fuses.
Why you need an electrician:
An emergency electrician can adjust wiring so that power is correctly distributed around multiple circuits.
How to stop it happening again:
Don't overload outlets: Be wary of how many devices are connected to a power source.
2. Loose wires
The problem:
Loose wires can prevent a switch to stop working, resulting in occasional power losses.
Why you need an electrician:
An electrician will identify the loose wire, turn off power to the area, find the connection point and remove the damaged portion of the wire. A professional can also strip the wire and reconnect the power cable.
How to stop it happening again:
Invest in an annual electricity audit. An electrician will check appliances, wires and sockets once a year and identify any faulty equipment before the problem gets worse.
3. Tangled wires
The problem:
Excessive tangled wires can be a potential fire hazard, especially if old wires are uncapped or terminated.
Why you need an electrician:
An electrician can trace the connections and identify which wires are working correctly and which ones are damaged.
How to stop it happening again:
Keep bunches of wires organized and untangled using cord clips.
4. Dust in power socket
The problem:
Lint, dust and dirt can accumulate in power outlets, posing a significant fire risk. A power outlet feels hot to touch or devices might not be working properly.
Why you need an electrician:
An electrician can quickly remove dust from power sockets, power strips and surge protectors.
How to stop it happening again:
Keep power outlets clean by dusting them on a regular basis.
5. Ceiling light dimmer switches are hot to touch
The problem:
Dimmer switches for ceiling light fixtures feel hot to touch. This can occur when the maximum recommended wattage for a lightbulb is exceeded, causing too much heat buildup.
Why you need an electrician:
An electrician can replace a dimmer switch and recommend you use a lightbulb with a lower wattage.
How to stop it happening again:
If you use incandescent light bulbs, change to light-emitting diode bulbs (LED) or compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL) instead, which don't produce as much heat.
