Electricity is one of those home comforts that is pretty easy for any of us to take for granted nowadays. After all, we’ve had it available to us in our households throughout our entire lives—it’s always there! But… taking things for granted often means we can forget about the dangers involved if we don’t properly care for them. And electricity can certainly pose such a danger.
Keep reading as we dive into some of the warning signs that you might notice if your electrical wiring is in trouble. These warning signs are not all indicative of an emergency situation by any means, but any resolutions with any type of electrical system problem should always be addressed swiftly.
Frayed Wiring
Okay, so most of your wiring is hidden from sight. We get it! But, if you’re having work done in your home or if you do have exposed wiring, take a look at it! Do you see any fraying? This is one of the most common indicators of trouble.
Wiring can fray due to the way it is bent, or even due to excessive heat throughout the years. Frayed wiring can also be the result of nails and screws being put into walls blindly. Your wires need to be safely contained to avoid danger—if you’re not sure if yours are, it’s a good idea to call our pros for an inspection.
Hot Spots on Outlets or Walls
Electricity generates heat, naturally. This is how things like electric furnaces, water heaters, and stoves/ranges work, after all. The difference here is that, well, you want those things to generate heat. You don’t want your wiring to generate heat!
So, if you touched an outlet, light switch, or spot on the wall where wiring runs and noticed a warm spot, you can certainly be looking at the sign of a problem. If it’s paired with charring marks on the outlet or switch, it’s definitely time to give a qualified electrician a call.
Keep in mind, dimmer switches do generate a bit of heat naturally due to their setup. But if you notice the level of heat has increased or if you’re unsure if they’re too warm or not, the best thing you can do is cease use until you can have a pro check it out.
Frequently Tripped Circuit Breakers
Your electrical panel, or circuit breaker panel, is a much improved version of fuse boxes of the past. Sure, every once in a while you will need to reset a breaker—it happens to the best electrical systems. But at least you don’t have to actually swap out dead fuses!
That said, electrical panels still have their limitations. Today’s electrical demands are far higher than those of the past. With the addition of computers, charging stations, entertainment systems, and high-efficiency HVAC systems, you need more. If you have frequently tripping circuit breakers, it could be the sign that you’re ready for an electrical panel upgrade, and potentially even a wiring upgrade.
At Covenant Heating and Cooling, we are “Dedicated to the Promise of Serving You.” Contact us today to get in touch with professional electricians in Hendersonville, TN.