Three Common Signs You Need Electrical System Servicing and Upgrades In Your Home
The electrical system in your home is critical in providing lighting, powering your HVAC system, and powering the different devices and appliances you utilize. As a result, it is essential to have your electrical system serviced and maintained regularly to ensure it retains its performance for the long run.
Unfortunately, most homeowners have never thought of having their electrical system serviced. However, neglecting electrical system servicing not only diminishes the performance of your electrical system but can also result in costly repairs later on.
In most cases, the need for electrical system servicing will result from a malfunction or a damaged part of the system. Thus, it is essential to learn about the various signs to look out for that will let you know your home's electrical system is due for a maintenance/upgrade service. With that said, here are three signs that will let you know you need electrical system servicing.
Warm/Hot switch Plates and Outlets
Though your switch plates and outlets are cool/cold when off, they should not generate any heat when you turn them on. Thus, if your switches and outlets feel warm when turned on, it is a sign of an issue with your electrical system.
In most cases, if a switch or outlet produces trace amounts of heat when turned on, it is due to an electrical overload. However, if the switch or outlet wasn't correctly installed or has a loose component or wiring, it could also generate heat. Additionally, if the switch or outlet is faulty due to wear and tear, it could draw more power resulting in its components overheating.
Thus, when you notice your switches or outlets feeling warm or hot to the touch, it is advisable to seek an electrical system servicing contractor immediately. During the electrical system servicing, the contractor will assess the reason for the overheating, fix any loose wiring, or upgrade the worn-out/outdated components.
Frequently Tripping Breaker
The circuit breaker is a safety measure to ensure that your electrical system doesn't overload. Thus, a frequently tripping breaker is a sign that you are overloading your electrical system. Overloading occurs when your electrical system draws in more power than it can handle safely.
In most cases, an overload occurs when you add heavy-duty appliances without upgrading the wiring and the circuit breaker to handle the amount of power drawn by the new machine. Thus, suppose you add a new electrical device such as an oven to your kitchen, and the wiring in your kitchen isn't capable of handling such a heavy load. In that case, your circuit breaker will trip every time you turn on the oven.
Thus, if your circuit breaker is frequently tripping, it is high time you considered an electrical system servicing and upgrade. By upgrading the wiring or replacing your current circuit breaker with a higher-rated circuit breaker, you will enjoy your new appliances without the breaker tripping.
Dimming or Flickering Lights
If you are superstitious, dimming and flickering lights could indicate you have ghosts in your residence trying to communicate with you. However, if you are a practical person, dimming and flickering lights indicate a malfunction in your home's electrical system.
Dimming and flickering lights could be the result of various issues, including:
- A loose or malfunctioning bulb or bulb holder
- If the dimming and flickering occur when you turn on an appliance, it could result from the apparatus drawing too much power.
- When dimming and flickering occur throughout the house even when no appliances are running, in that case, it could be because some of the service conductors in the electrical panel have deteriorated or loosened.
Because you may not be able to determine the exact reason you are experiencing dimming and flickering lights, it is advisable to call an electrical system servicing technician to assess your electrical system. If the issue results from loose or worn-out conductors, the technician will tighten or replace them for you.
Alternatively, if the flickering and dimming results from loose bulb holders or an appliance drawing excess power, an electrical system technician can provide the necessary fixes and upgrades to reinstate the standard functionality of your electrical system.