If there are electrical problems in your home it can be a very dangerous situation. But if you don’t know how to spot electrical problems, you might not know what counts as dangerous.
Fortunately, there are some key signs you can look out for, that’ll help you spot potential electrical issues.
Keep reading and you’ll learn 10 signs that your home needs an electrical upgrade.
1. Burning Smell near an Outlet
One of the key signs your home needs an electrical upgrade is if you can smell a burning smell, near the electrical outlets.
This is often due to some form of faulty wiring and if left unchecked, it could lead to some serious problems in your home.
If you notice something like this happening in your home take a moment to turn off the electricity for that part of your home. You can do this using the circuit breaker.
Once the right section is turned off, you can then go about removing the plug for the appliance. If the burning smell is very strong you might want to call an emergency electrician. If you want more info about how you can hire an emergency electrician, visit this website.
2. Flickering Lights During a Storm or Windy Weather
You’ll also want to look out for situations in which the lights in your house flicker when the winds are picking up outside. If the lights flicker in a situation like this it can mean that there is some kind of loose or frayed wiring in your home.
3. You Don’t Have Enough Outlets
If you find that you don’t have enough outlets in your home you may need to use a lot of extension cords to help meet your demands. The problem, though, is that using such cords can lead to a potential fire hazard. It can also be inconvenient to have to use so many extension cords.
So, if you find that you’re short on outlets, there’s a good chance you might need to upgrade the electrical systems in your home.
4. High Electricity Bills
High electricity bills is another sign that you might need to upgrade the electrical systems in your home.
Now, of course, you’ll want to make sure that these bills aren’t high due to you simply using more power. What you’ll want to look out for are disproportionately high electric bills.
That’s because in some homes, faulty, old wiring can lead to a poor transfer of energy. To be sure if you have faulty wiring in your home, you may need to check the wiring itself. This can be tricky if the wires are not easily accessible.
You’ll want to check the wiring to see if it has been chewed by rodents. You’ll also want to check if there is any kind of ‘melting,’ that has affected the external part of the wires.
5. Light Bulbs Need Replacing Frequently
If the light bulbs in your house are constantly being blown out, then this can also be a sign that you may need to replace the electrical system. Most light bulbs are designed to last for at least 1,000 hours.
So if you find that your bulbs are only providing about a months worth of use, it can be a sign you need to check your electrical system. This is because faulty electrical systems can lead to too much power flowing to a light bulb. This can mean that the light bulb is not able to handle the extra power and then ‘blows.’
6. The Circuit Often Trips
Another sign that the electrical systems need updating is if the circuit breakers in your home trip a lot. The circuit breaker will generally trip in a situation where it detects excess electricity.
Scenarios like this are normal every once in a while. But if you find that the circuit is breaking more and more frequently, it may be because your electrical system isn’t designed to meet your power needs. If this is the case, then there’s a good chance you’ll need to take a look at upgrading your electrical systems.
7. Light Switches Are Warm
Another sign of an electrical system that needs upgrading is if you find your light switches are warm to the touch. This shouldn’t really happen and if it does happen it can be a sign of an electrical problem.
There are many reasons why a light switch may feel warm. But if you have a faulty electrical system it can be because there is too much power being delivered to the light switch. This can happen if the light switches are poorly designed or have not been fitted properly.
8. The House Is Very Old
If the house is very old, then there’s a good chance it might be due for an electrical upgrade. That is because the electrical systems in the house may have naturally deteriorated over time. You might not be able to tell when the electrical systems in your home were last updated.
But if it’s been longer than 5 years since you moved in, and you haven’t touched the home electrics, consider calling an electrician. They’ll be able to check over your electrical systems to make sure everything is in order.
9. You’re Going to Make Some Major Upgrades
If you’re going to make some major upgrades to your home, especially your kitchen, it might mean that you’re going to install some new appliances. It might even mean you’re thinking about installing an AC unit.
These new appliances are likely going to draw a lot more power. Because of this, you’ll need to make some upgrades to your electrical system. You’ll need to make sure you have an electrical panel that is able to provide power that is in alignment with your new needs.
10. You’re Thinking About Selling or Renting Your Home
If you’re thinking about moving out, it can be a good idea to check the electrical systems.
In doing so, you can let new tenants know that you’ve updated everything. If you’re going to rent your home out, you can reduce the odds of receiving a call related to an electrical problem.
Should You Consider an Electrical Upgrade?
The electrical systems in a home can be very confusing. But there are often some very clear signs that there might be a problem.
In this post, we’ve reviewed some of the easy to spot signs that might highlight whether you need to consider an electrical upgrade.
You might only experience one of these problems. You might experience all of them. What matters most is that you keep a close eye on things so you can take action before the situation becomes very dangerous.
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