BusinessHABEmergency electrician: Some electrical problems can wait a few days, while others should be handled immediately. These are the signs you should call an emergency electrician.
Your home should be your sanctuary, a place of refuge, and, most importantly, safety. Yet an alarming number of accidents happen when we are at home–many of which are preventable.
One obvious area of potential danger that we should all pay attention to is electrical faults. Electrical faults were the third leading cause of fires at homes, many of which led to fatal consequences.
There is a way, however, to stay ahead of the danger, and that is by being aware of the signs and calling in an emergency electrician.
So what are the major signs to look out for? Keep on reading to find out.
Read on: How to Adopt Fire Safety week 2023 Measures
Emergency electrician
What is Considered an Electrical Emergency?
It’s not always crystal clear that you have an emergency electrical problem rather than a nuisance you can schedule services for. Many times, problems with wiring can lead to a genuine emergency. If you’re unsure, give us a call, and we can help diagnose your situation. You’re not alone. Some of the common indicators of an electrical emergency include:
1. Unidentified Burning Smell
Does the smell linger or come and go? Are your smoke detectors being set off? Check your appliances, all your outlets, ducts, and your breaker box to see if you can find the source. An unidentified odour may well be an electrical hazard, especially if you smell plastic burning.
2. A Buzzing or Humming Sound in Breaker Box
Overall, a slight humming sound coming from your breaker box is normal as it runs an electrical current. However, if you notice the buzzing or humming getting continuously louder, address it quickly as it may mean the circuit breaker is overloaded. An overload heats the circuit wiring and can cause a life-threatening fire hazard.
See also: What kind of AC Repair Service can I do on my own?( Get the 20 Tips)
3. Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping Repeatedly
There are a few reasons for a circuit breaker to keep tripping, including:
- The circuit breaker box is going bad
- A circuit overload the breaker box cannot accommodate
- A ground fault is occurring, meaning a hot wire is touching the ground
- An appliance or wire is short-circuiting, meaning the electrical flow has gone outside the intended circuit
4. Lights Continuously Flicker
If your lights occasionally flicker, it’s likely a minor problem with your lightbulb or a faulty switch. When they persistently flicker this signals a more substantial problem such as a circuit overload, excess voltage, or loose wiring. These are dangerous and should have an inspection immediately.
5. Someone Received an Electrical Shock
There are many situations where one can experience electrical shock, such as:
- Old outlets that are two-prong and therefore have no ground wire as a safety barrier
- An outlet or switch with loose screws or wiring makes the electrical current unstable
- Faulty appliances, including frayed wiring or broken cords that shock you when you plug them in
- Water sources near electricity, or touching outlets with damp hands
Read on: 10 Reasons to Own a Champion Dual Fuel Inverter Generator
6. Smoke Coming from an Outlet
A common issue with outlets is when debris builds up within. Electricity transfers to the dust and/or dirt, which causes arcing. Arcing creates heat, which is an immediate indicator of an electrical emergency that may start a fire. Other problems that can cause outlets to smoke include wiring issues, loose plug-in connections, and connecting too many devices to one outlet.
7. Loss of Power
It’s normal to experience loss of power from storms or when everyone on the block loses power due to a problem with the electrical company. But when you’ve paid your monthly bill, and you’re the only one in the vicinity to lose power, it could be a hazardous problem with your breaker box that needs immediate diagnosis.
8. Wet Electrical Panel
When water mixes with electricity, there is a high potential for electrocution. Water can get into your electrical panel through an improper seal on the box or soak through older cables of a meter box and through to the panel. If this has been happening for a longer period, corrosion can ruin multiple components of your electrical panel and increase resistance in the circuits causing more heat production, thus also creating a fire hazard.
Read also: 11 Ways to Start Crèche Business
9. Circuit Breakers Keep Tripping
Your circuit breakers are the first line of defence when it comes to major power problems in your electrical circuit.
A local power surge could make the breaker go off. However, if you notice it is constant, you should first take note of what circuit it is. Having an overloaded circuit is a common reason for tripping so it could be a simple case of unplugging some appliances. Yet due to breakers being so fundamental to household safety, it certainly isn’t something that you should ignore.
For that reason, if one of your breakers trips regularly you should take notice and call in an emergency electrician.
10. Warm or Hot Power Outlets
As we normally need the appliance we are plugging in to start working, it is easy to ignore this sign. Yet if you feel warmth or heat coming from the sockets or switches this is another red flag for the need of an emergency electrician.
The simple reason is that this is a major precursor to a potential fire. It could be due to high demand in a circuit or wiring problems, but the increase of heat energy is a problem where swift action is needed.
As this can be a silent warning sign it would be good if, on occasion, you were to check how your sockets feel to the touch.
See also: 20 Top Daily Income Business
11. Flickering Lights
Light flickering is one of those electrical issues that are easy to spot, but also easy to ignore. But if it happens when you plug in a certain appliance or happens on a regular basis, then it is time to call in an emergency electrician.
Flickering lights can happen when there is an overload on a circuit, faulty wiring, or more. As it is difficult to ascertain, it is best to leave it to the professionals and contact a trained professional.
12. Sparks When Plugging in Appliances
The sight of a spark when we plug in something can give you shock (we don’t mean in the literal sense!). However most of the time there is no need for alarm.
When the conductors in a circuit are close to touching, it is common for light blue sparks to jump from one to the other, called arcing.
The problem lies when you begin to see big sparks that last longer than a split second and are white or yellow. The reasons could be down to overloads or an improper installation.
Sparks could easily turn into a fire. To avoid bigger problems get on the phone with an electrician so you can rest easy.
13. Burning Smells or Smoke
Our senses are hardwired to spot danger, and our sense of smell isn’t one to be ignored. A burning or smoking smell if not easy to identify should lead to you making a quick phone call to the emergency services. Your mains should also be switched off.
Once the fire department has checked to make sure that there are no imminent fires, your next call should be to your electrician. They will be able to identify if you have wires that have melted or any other underlying issues.
If you find yourself with this problem, resolve to have the issue identified before you turn on any power into the house.
14. Water Damage
There is usually a panic that ensues after experiencing a flood or a major leak. This usually means that getting on your local electrician may not be the first thought on your mind.
But given the many dangers that come from mixing water with electricity, it is imperative that a professional comes in for an assessment before you switch on any electricity.
Damaged cables sitting in water or damp environment where steam can condense could lead to short circuits. There also could be other long-term damage to your property, meaning you may need to rewire or change electrical outlets and switches.
With this in mind, a call to your local emergency electrician is a must should this happen to you.
15. Buzzing Sounds
Unless you have a beehive taking up lodging in your home (which would be another problem) then buzzing sounds are not and shouldn’t be viewed as normal. In fact, they could be telling you that you have a problem brewing.
The reasons for the sounds can be anything from a few loose screws at a termination point or a more serious wiring problem. Regardless of what it may be it isn’t something that someone who isn’t a professional could resolve.
Leave the guesswork to the professionals and reach out to your local electrician.
Conclusion:
Whether or not you routinely schedule electrical inspections, sometimes hazardous situations arise unexpectedly. When that happens, you need a team who will arrive promptly, assess thoroughly, and repair efficiently.
BusinessHAB