Electricity tops the list of the modern man’s integral needs. It is almost hard to imagine life before the advent of electricity.
Electricity seems a must in potential accomplishment of our daily goals; virtually every tool we use runs on electric energy - our objects of play. This is why, when there is a fault in electricity supply at home, it becomes a thing of grave concern – obstructing the quality of peace at home. Many home electrical faults may, however, need professional fix. Although, in case you are able to immediately diagnose some problems, then, you might stand a chance to fix them yourself.
Below is a list of common home electric faults and how to fix them.
- Inconsistent in Voltage Supply.
This can be in the form of power surge or dips. Sudden power surge or dips, has the potential to damage your appliance. A surge is, at least, a 10% rise in recommended voltage baseline that flows through an electric circuit. Conversely, a power dip is, at least, a 10% drop. This can be caused by lighting or even damage powerlines which are phenomenon beyond your control. However, you should install surge protectors to defend your gadgets against power surge. If this is habitual, please, call a professional.
- Overheated Fixtures or Outlets
An outlet that become too hot to handle might be an indication of excessive electricity flow within a circuit. This can lead to severe electrical breakdown if not quickly addressed. To solve this, unplug possible fixtures that are drawing power from the outlet. There are chances a device plugged has incompatible wattage. If you can not figure out the primary cause, then its time to contact your electrician.
- A Dead Outlets
When an outlet is discovered not working, it might have been as a result of faulty wirings or a loosed connection. As long as you have checked and confirm that flipping the control switch does not fix the problem, then it is time to loosen up the outlet for further problem search. You might need to service of your electrician.
- Quickly Dying Light Bulb.
When light bulbs burn out too quickly, the fault might be that the installed bulb is not suitable for the lamp holder’s wattage, hence, drawing more power than supposed, or it is because of faulty wirings from damage insulation that is causing partial contact. If you have addressed wattage and the problem persist, call a profession.
- Electrical Shock
An electric shock is an unpleasant experience. The gravity may range from severe to mild. The problem may come from the device itself or due to faulty wirings. You basically need to be careful about your electrical handlings. However, if the cause seems esoteric, then, you may need an electrician.
- Circuit Breaker Tripping Repeatedly.
If your circuit breaker repeatedly trips, the problem might be as a result of overloading of a particular circuit. You will need to redistribute your device plug-in. Then, go toggle it “off” and switch it back “on”. If it yet persist, it may be a short circuit problem. This is a valid reason to seek for professional help.
- Scarce Outlets at Home
Some houses have fewer than needed electrical outlet. This could cause unnecessary overloading of particular outlets, hence circuit breaker repeatedly tripping. A temporary solution will be to engage a UL-listed surge protector or a heavy-duty extension cord. However, you ultimately need new outlets to be installed.
- Flickering Lights
Flickering lights are cause by multiple problems - switch incompatibility, broken switch, loose connection in the circuit, or damaged cables. If only one light flickers, it is often a loose connection problem. But when multiple lights are flickering, then it is a problem with your circuit. You should call your electrician