9 Signs You Need An Electrician

Before you hire an electrician, you must first recognize the signs that your house has electrical trouble. Below are 9 signs that you need help from a professional today.

If you have a faulty electrical system, you know it can cause problems in many ways. Faulty electrical systems can cause fire hazards, or can cause sensitive electrical equipment to short circuit. A poorly functioning electrical system can be an embarrassment when you’re having guests, or it can devalue your house. Ultimately, wiring problems can be a danger to you and members of your household. If you’re having trouble with your home’s electrical system, you need help from an experienced electrician.

Before you hire an electrician, you must first recognize the signs that your house has electrical trouble. Below are 9 signs that you need help from a professional today.

Flickering Lights

Lights can flicker for a variety of reasons. One flickering light could be a sign of a wiring problem in that particular fixture. If the light fixture buzzes and flickers at the same time, this could be an indication of an arc fault in the wiring.

If several lights in your home flicker or dim when an appliance comes on, this is a sign that your circuit breaker box needs more electrical service. Very likely, your appliance is drawing so much power that it’s pulling electricity away from smaller fixtures. If this is not fixed, it could lead to a dangerous overload. This is a common problem in older homes with old electrical panels. You may need to upgrade to an electrical panel with 150 or 200 amp service. Your electrician can tell you more.

Tripping Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers trip when electrical devices pull too much power through the wires at one time. Most households trip their circuit breakers on rare occasions when too many high-power devices have been plugged in and are turned on at one time. If your circuit breakers trip on a regular basis, this could be a sign that your house isn’t getting enough electrical service, and your breaker box is regularly overloaded by day-to-day activities. If your home is older, you may need to upgrade. Talk to an electrician to find out if upgrading your service will help.

Your Extension Cord Use is Out of Control

It’s easy to overload a circuit when you’re plugging in several extension cords into one outlet. If you’re using multiple extension cords in one room, plugging extension cords into power strips, or if you’re using extension cords as a permanent fixture in your home, this could be a sign that you need more outlets. Work with an electrician to have outlets installed in rooms and areas of the house where they are lacking.