Homeowners do not always consider their electrical systems until signs of wear appear. Some go as far as ignore the obvious signs of an impending malfunction until the system completely fails. While it would be easy to compare the electrical system to other residential systems, it is much more vast and dangerous. All residential systems require routine maintenance that can sometimes be completed by the homeowner. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the maintenance of an electrical system which requires a licensed electrician contractor.
A keen eye will not only prevent future breakdowns but also ensure maximum year-round efficiency. Although it is impossible to prevent normal wear and tear, monitoring the system can minimize the risk of unexpected, costly repairs. It’s always the unexpected ones that are the biggest hurdle.
A Faulty Switch
The various components utilized to make a light switch provide convenient usability to ceiling fans, chandeliers, wall scones, track lighting, flush-mount ceiling lights, pendant lights, and recessed lights. There is no doubt, the convenience outweighs the time and money invested into the wall switch.
It is not recommended to repair, replace, or install an electrical switch without experience. Too many people have made the mistake of tampering with their electrical system to later regret it. A licensed electrician can replace a faulty light switch in 15 minutes or less.
The modern light switch features a copper ground wire. Homes 1950 and older are installed with an ungrounded electrical system. “Ungrounded” means the system lacks are copper ground rod. What is a ground wire? It is a rod constructed of pure copper that drives excess electrical current to the ground.
Ungrounded switches and outlets should be replaced with modern alternatives by a licensed electrician. With this said, the switch must be compatible with the home’s electrical system.
A Blinking “Flickering” Light
A faulty wall switch can contribute to a flickering light fixture. However, the culprit could just as easily be a faulty light fixture. The only way to determine if the switch is the true culprit is a multimeter test. Most homes are installed with single-pole light switches that feature two terminals and a power toggle. A more sophisticated light switch, a three-way switch, has three terminals and a power toggle.
A flickering light can also be a faulty light bulb. When a bulb starts flickering, it will not be long before it completely malfunctions. The alert should provide enough time to have the faulty bulb replaced.
Does the light flicker there when the toggle is switched from “Off” to “On.” Does the light flicker only when the heating & air conditioning system kicks on? These are vital questions that must be considered when diagnosing a flickering light.
Abused Extension Cords
Extension cords and power strips are without a doubt two all-time great electrical inventions. In residential settings, these components are often unintentionally neglected and overused. It is not unusual for people to plug more than the recommended number of components into a power strip. When the outlets are all filled up, they will utilize an adapter to power more components.
On top of this, homeowners are commonly using underrated extension cords for energy-hogging devices. Constant unplugging/plugging of an electrical cable causes significant damage. Electrical prongs are durable but not enough to sustain continuous plugging and unplugging. An electrical cable can be repaired by replacing the grounding plug. People with no electrical repair experience should replace a grounding plug.
Shock Hazard
Most people are going to think this one is a scare tactic to get them more installed in their home’s electrical system. However, an average of 400 people experience shocks in a given year. 200 of these incidents will result in fatalities. That alone should make most homeowners think twice the next time they receive a little zap or tingling while handling an electrical cord or component. Laying hands on the outer casing, the supply cord, or the switch will indicate problems.
A Faulty Receptacle “Outlet”
A shocking number of homes burn down every year due to electrical wires. The majority of those cases are the result of loose connections. Many of these loose connections are tied to loose outlet wiring. It’s not hard for most to see how light switches experience a lot of wear, but outlets generally don’t get a second glance. The constant plugging and unplugging of components can result in loose wiring connections just as the constant flipping of a switch can.
That’s especially true when the wires are initially tight enough or the connections are yanked out of the wall rather than being eased out. The fact that outlets are commonly used as junctions only increases the potential for loose connections.
Tripping Breakers
The sound of a tripping breaker is hard to misidentify. Tripped breakers are more often than not the result of the circuit being overpowered. This essentially means that the circuit has just been exposed to a higher electrical rating than it was designed to sustain. It’s nearly the same thing as using an extension cord to power a device it’s not rated for.
With that in mind, most homeowners don’t consider a tripped breaker very dangerous because the occurrence kills the power to the circuit in question. This is not always the case! There are many cases where the breakers fail completely and the circuit receives continuous current, making it impossible to kill the live connection without shutting down the main breaker. Tripped breakers are usually the biggest indication of appliance failure. Take note of when the tripping occurs.
Does it only happen when plugging in certain items? Does it happen when the microwave is running? Is it entirely random? Answering these questions can lead to a solution, but the biggest mistake any homeowner can make is to automatically assume the power is off when the breaker trips. In theory, that’s how the system should work, but there are always potentials.