Many people have an electrical problem and don’t know how to fix it. You might even think you have everyday electrical issues. Our experienced team of electricians has seen it all. We are here to help you with your electrical problems.
Ten Common Electrical Problems in Households
Many Electricians see all types of problems over the years they fix electrical faults and problems. It seemed like a great idea to compile a list of common electrical issues.
We will do our best to help you understand the problem, what it could be, what it might mean, and how to fix it. We’re happy to send an electrician to your home if you have any questions. Let’s get started!
1: Lights not working
Problem: Unreliable light switches can’t be clicked on and turned on, while dimmer lights don’t dim.
Danger level: Low. It could be defective parts, an installation error, or the age of the switch.
Troubleshooting: There are many reasons why this electrical problem might occur. To verify that the light bulb is working, you should first test it in another fixture. To verify that power is flowing to the circuit, make sure the circuit breaker has been turned on. Is your dimmer working at all settings or none at all?
Solution: If a switch doesn’t work, it is good to contact a professional electrician. Even though it is unlikely that you will be hurt, even though the risk level is low, we do not want to see you in danger.
2: Many Electrical Surges
Problem: There are frequent power surges that you notice in your home. You may see power surges when the power goes out or is cut off for a brief time before it comes back on again.
Danger level: Moderate. Over time, surges can cause damage to electronic devices.
Troubleshooting: Surge conditions around your house should be monitored. Most surges occur across your entire grid. Surges don’t happen in a single area. Lightning storms can cause surges, but they shouldn’t be expected.
Solution: Only way to solve the problem is to get an inspection, contact a professional electrician. You might have a defective device or powerboard attached to your grid. To find the culprit, a professional can inspect your home’s wiring and grid.
3: Circuit Breaker Tripping
Problem: You may lose power in a particular area of your house periodically.
Danger level: High. This is often due to the overloading of a circuit.
Troubleshooting: Pay attention to when the breaker trips. Do you notice if it happens immediately after a device is started or when your HVAC system turns off?
Solution: You might try unplugging specific devices to see if it works. You may need to add an additional circuit or upgrade your electrical system. A professional electrician will be required in either case.
4: Outlets and Switches Are Warm
Problem: Outlets and light switches feel warm to the touch.
Danger level: Extremely high. This could indicate a serious electrical problem, which can lead to fires.
Troubleshooting: It is not difficult to troubleshoot electrical problems. You only need to know what happens if you touch an outlet or light switch that is warm. If you see hot light switches or warm outlets, there is likely a problem. You can also check if the outlet is warm if you notice a strange smell.
Solution: Turn off the switch or breaker immediately and call an electrician. Until an electrician arrives, you should not use the outlet or switch.
5: Are Your Lights Too Bright or Too Dim?
Problem: Your home’s lights are either too bright or too dim or flicker between intensity levels.
Danger level: High. It could be caused by a bad connection to the socket. This can lead to sparking, arcing, or even a fire.
TroubleshootingMake sure that you have the correct lightbulbs for your outlets. You will find a sticker near the light socket that indicates the maximum permissible wattage.
On the bulbs, you should print the wattage. Make sure the bulb’s maximum wattage does not exceed the max wattage printed on the socket.
Next, ensure that the lightbulbs have adequately been screwed in. If the problem persists, try a new lightbulb. Sometimes lightbulbs can be defective or made from an inferior batch.
Do you see the problem in more than one room? It’s usually due to defective lightbulbs if it happens in multiple rooms. It is usually a bad socket connection if it occurs only in one room.
Solution: If none of these troubleshooting methods works, your socket likely has faulty connections. It is best to call a professional electrician for a diagnosis.
6: Electric Shocks
Problem: When you plug in or turn on a gadget, it causes a mild shock.
Danger level: From moderate to very high. This could be either a defective appliance or faulty wiring.
Troubleshooting: This could be caused by faulty wiring. There is no way to safely troubleshoot the problem. Call a professional electrician if you have just suffered an electric shock.
Solution: It is best to call a professional electrician in this situation.
7: Bulbs are evaporating quickly
Problem: Your home’s lightbulbs are losing their effectiveness too fast. They should work – sometimes for over 40,000 hours!
Danger level: Potentially very high. These blowouts could be caused by a loose connection to the socket or circuit.
Troubleshooting: Check that the bulbs are the correct wattage for their sockets. A printed label will be placed near the socket indicating the maximum wattage.
You can expect them to blow out quickly if your socket is rated at 60W. If the bulb is of the correct wattage but still burns quickly, it’s most likely the socket.
Solution: Untrained people may find the answer quite dangerous. Reach out to an expert. Home repairs can be done by a professional electrician.
8: The Electric Bill Is High
Problem: Your electric bill is either higher than usual or higher than it should be.
Danger level: You can choose to go low or high. You could have a mild problem or an appliance that consumes a lot of power. Alternately, damaged wiring or circuits could cause sparks and fire.
Troubleshooting: If you have a high bill for the first time, think about what you could have done differently. If this is the first hot month in the year, you can expect that your bill will go up as more air conditioners are used around the house.
It could be a sudden and unplanned spike or if your bill is always higher than usual. Your electricity provider might be charging you too much, or your house may have an electrical problem.
Solution: There are several solutions to random spikes and a high electric bill.
- If you find a leak in your hot water system, fix it!
- When not in use, unplug appliances, chargers, and electronic devices
- An electrician should inspect and repair your wiring and outlets
- Switch to a cheaper electric provider
- Learn which appliances are making your bill go up
- Ask your electricity provider about your bill
9: Light Bulb Really Hot
Problem: The bulb is extremely hot to the touch. This is known as “overlamping”.
Danger level: High. High heat can cause the insulation to deteriorate and wiring problems. This could lead to sparks, fires, and arcing. The socket damage will not go away.
Troubleshooting: You can see the base of the bulb if it is visible. You may be overlamping if you see black streaks or soot on the base or bulb.
Use a temperature probe (a meat thermometer or an equivalent) to test the bulb. Also, feel for any airborne particles near the bulb. Another sign that your socket may be overlamped is if the bulb is extremely hot.
Solution: Most commonly, your light bulb is consuming more wattage than the socket can handle. Do you see a pattern here?
Make sure that your bulb’s wattage is equal to or lower than the socket’s max wattage. You should stick to bulbs that are 60 watts or less if you’re unsure or if your house is older.
Overlamping can cause socket damage. You’ll need to call a professional.
10: Plug Falls out of Wall Outlet
Problem: Older houses are often plagued by a plug that won’t fit in the wall outlet. The outlet has contacts that will hold the plug in place. If plugs fall out of the outlet, it means that the connections are bad.
Danger level: If the problem is not resolved, it can be hazardous. If the outlet is not fixed, it can cause an arcing and ignition of nearby wood and dust, leading to a fire.
Troubleshooting: It is easy to troubleshoot. Connect an electronic device. Try another outlet if the plug falls out or is not tight enough. If the plug is still firm in another outlet, it may be due to faulty contacts.
Solution: You can simply buy a new outlet, and then replace it. We have found that many homeowners are comfortable undertaking this task on their own. It’s a small investment and only costs a few dollars.
Pro tip: Before attempting to solve the problem, make sure that the circuit breaker is turned off.