When many things in your home need to be repaired or replaced, you can see the wear or damage. Your wiring, however, is a different story. Because the wiring is concealed behind walls and within conduits, you usually can’t see firsthand that something is wrong. But there are several indicators that let you know it’s time to call a residential electrician.
Old, damaged, or faulty wiring can be dangerous, so you don’t want to wait to call a residential electrician. Here are the signs you should look for.
Flickering Lights
There are a few things that can cause lights to flicker or dim. The bulb could be loose, or there could be a problem with the socket itself. The wiring could also be the culprit. When wiring is old or damaged, it cannot handle the electrical demands anymore. In that case, the wires send too much or too little electricity to the fixtures or outlets where the lights are plugged in, causing them to flicker or dim.
Warm Outlets or Switches
Even though power is flowing into your outlets and switches, you shouldn’t be able to feel it. Outlets and wall switches are the same temperature as the wall because enough electricity is sent through them to power whatever they need to power, but not enough to generate heat. If an outlet or switch is warm to the touch, that means there is something wrong with the wiring, or the outlet is overloaded. In extreme cases, you will see scorch marks. If that happens, unplug everything, stop using the outlet or switch, and call a residential electrician to fix the problem.
Frequent Breaker Trips
Your breaker will often trip because you overloaded a circuit, and it shuts it off as a safety measure. But if you notice that your breaker is tripping a lot, that could be a sign that something is wrong with your wiring. You should always call a professional electrician to handle anything to do with your wiring or breaker.
Chamberlin Electric | Residential Electrician
In addition to any of these problems, you should also have your wiring checked and potentially replaced if it is over 30 years old. When you need a reliable residential electrician to work on your home, you need Chamberlin Electric! We have over 30 years of experience working in both residential and commercial buildings.
