Electricity was only discovered in the 1700s, and ever since then, it has remained an important part of our lives. Today, most people can’t imagine living in a world without electricity. After all, we need it to keep our lights on, our computers running, our phones charged, and so on. 

Unfortunately, sooner or later, your home will likely suffer from some electrical problems. Some electrical problems are more common than others. But what are the most common home electrical problems, and what can you do about them?

How can you know if certain electrical issues are dangerous? When should you call a home electrician? Keep reading and learn more about the most common electrical problems below.

Loose Electrical Outlets

You might have never heard of a loose electrical outlet before, but it is a surprisingly common problem that can affect your house, especially if your house is quite old. But how can you know if one or more of your outlets are loose? If you plug something into your outlet and find that the plug slips out instantly or over a period of time, this is a clear sign that your outlets are loose. 

Loose electrical outlets happen when the outlet gets old and worn down. After plugging and unplugging things into an outlet, the slots inside will eventually be unable to hold a plug. Many people think loose outlets are only minor annoyances, but this is not true. 

This electrical problem can actually be quite serious and even dangerous if left untreated. If you find that one or more of your outlets are loose, you should consider going through with electrical repairs right away. This is because loose electrical outlets are at a greater chance of arching. 

The Details

What does this mean, you might ask? It has to do with an arch of electricity springing from the outlet and going where it’s not supposed to go. This is a serious fire hazard. A spark of electricity from a loose outlet could easily set some dust or a piece of fabric on fire, and this flame could soon spread to the rest of your house. 

Fortunately, it doesn’t take a lot of effort or money to fix this problem. All you need to do is call up a professional to install a new outlet. It is best not to fix this problem yourself since you could easily electrocute yourself if you’re not careful. 

Over-Wired Panels

Electrical panels are only designed to handle and manage a certain amount of electricity. If you try to wire your electrical panel to more circuits than it’s designed for, you may encounter some electrical problems down the line. After your panel deals with so much electricity for a prolonged period of time, the panel will eventually start to wear down, and this can become a dangerous problem if you’re not aware of it. 

In particular, this problem may cause problems with your fuse box. If too much electricity flows into the fuse box, some of the fuses may burst. This can end up causing other electrical problems throughout your house. 

If you want to avoid all of this hassle and commotion, it is best to make sure that you never over-wire your panels. If you’re not really sure how to approach the problem or what to do with the excess wires, you can always get another electrical panel. This is known as a subpanel, and it is ideal for connecting excess wires. 

What You Need to Know

By having a main electrical panel and a subpanel, you won’t have to worry about your panel being over-wired. If you don’t want to get a subpanel, you could always replace your current electrical panel with a much larger one. That way, the larger panel should be able to handle the electrical currents from all of your wires without any problems. 

Keep in mind that you should not attempt this task yourself. Installing a new electrical panel or installing a subpanel are both very difficult tasks that can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. For that reason, you should always contact a professional electrician to do the job for you. 

Generators can also help take some of the electrical weight off your home. 

Old Wiring Systems

Many old houses have very old wiring systems. While your home’s electrical system may seem fine for now, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t on the verge of falling apart and causing serious damage. In particular, old wires may burn through their insulated layers, which would then expose the metallic wires on the inside. 

Old wires are also at a higher risk of overheating. The worst part is that it is hard to tell if your wires are on the verge of bursting into flames. If you often smell an electrical burning smell in your home but can’t figure out where it’s coming from, this may be a sign that your home’s wiring system may need to be replaced. 

If you see smoke or sparks coming from your electrical outlets, this is an even clearer sign that your wires need to be replaced right away. If you ignore this problem, your wiring system could easily go up in flames and take your entire house with it. 

Common Home Electrical Problems

Home electrical problems are no joke. Even the most common electrical problems, such as loose outlets or old wiring systems, can become dangerous in a short amount of time if you’re not paying attention. If you suspect that your house has an electric problem, call an electrician right away. 

To learn more, check out the other blogs on our website.

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By SARAH