When it comes to the electrical system in your Florence, SC, home, the last thing you want is to put you or your family at risk. Unfortunately, unchecked electrical problems can be a serious fire hazard, and missing those problems as a homeowner is easier than you might think. It’s important to know the warning signs of electrical problems so you know when to call an electrical contractor. If you want to make sure you’re calling a contractor before things get worse, here are the warning signs you should watch out for.

Flickering Lights

Most people have dealt with flickering lights, but this is often dismissed as a minor problem that’s common in old homes. The truth is, flickering lights can be a sign that you’ve got a serious electrical problem brewing—one that could put you and your family in danger.

While flickering lights can be a result of a bad bulb or a bulb that’s not tightly screwed in, it could also be due to faulty wiring or a bad switch or dimmer. It could also be that the fixture itself is loose or going bad, which can also lead to electrical hazards. If you notice lights flickering regularly in your home, call an electrical contractor as soon as possible.

Warm or Discolored Outlets

The outlets in your home are another good sign that you may have an electrical problem. Even when things are plugged into the outlet, it shouldn’t warm up. If you notice an outlet is warm when you attempt to plug something in, or if an outlet in your home is badly discolored, you have an electrical problem.

Warm or discolored outlets are often caused by a device converting AC to DC power. If you unplug devices from an outlet and it’s still warm to the touch an hour or so later, that outlet needs to be replaced. You should also have an electrical contractor replace an outlet if it’s cracked, chipped, or otherwise broken in a way that could lead to fire hazards.

Frequently Tripping Breakers

Breakers are designed to trip when a circuit is overloaded; when this happens, you can simply flip the breaker off then back on again. However, you might have a problem if you notice breakers in your home tripping frequently, especially if you’re not using a significant amount of power on that circuit.

Frequently tripping breakers are a sign of electrical panel problems, which can be a huge risk for you, your family, and your home. If you’ve got an older electrical panel that’s tripping frequently, call an electrical contractor to inspect it and figure out if it’s time to upgrade to something new.

Burning Odors

When you run electricity in your home, you shouldn’t notice any particular smells or sounds. If you notice a burning odor when using appliances or charging your phone, you’ve got an electrical problem. This burning odor could be caused by anything from a hot fixture or outlet to faulty wiring that’s creating a fire hazard.

No matter what you think may be causing the burning odor in your home, it’s important to call an electrical contractor to get things figured out. Some electrical problems are immediate fire hazards, which means it’s important to get them fixed before they get any worse. Simply replacing an outlet or fixture could save your home from a fire in the future.

Hot Fixtures

Just like outlets can get hot from being overloaded or malfunctioning, the fixtures in your home can also get too hot. Normally, fixtures such as lights don’t produce a lot of heat, which means there’s a problem if excess heat is being produced. If you ever notice a fixture is too hot to touch when you’re replacing a bulb, call an electrical contractor before doing anything else. Hot fixtures can lead to fires, especially if they’re located next to flammable building materials. It’s best to stop using a fixture when you notice it getting hot and have it replaced as soon as possible.

Switches or Outlets Not Working

When you flip a light switch or plug something into an outlet in your home, you expect something to happen. If you’ve got some sort of electrical problem, however, switches or outlets may not work as intended. If a light switch suddenly stops working or you’re not able to charge devices with an outlet anymore, you need to call an electrical contractor to get things sorted out.

Switches and outlets not working don’t mean you have an electrical emergency, but it’s important to have a properly functioning electrical system. An electrician can figure out why your switches or outlets aren’t working right and get them fixed so you can enjoy all the amenities in your home.

Sparks

Sparks are one of the first things people think about with electricity, but they’re not something you want to see in your home. If an outlet or fixture is sparking when you plug something in or flip a switch on, there’s a problem with a connection or a voltage issue somewhere. Sparks signify an electrical emergency, so you should call an emergency electrician if you spot sparks in your home.

Give Us a Call

Keeping an eye out for electrical problems can be a lot of work, but it’s worth it to keep yourself, your family, and your home safe. Plus, a little bit of education goes a long way when it comes to knowing how to spot electrical problems. If you’ve got any of the above-mentioned electrical problem warning signs, now’s the time to call an electrical contractor at Mister Sparky of Florence, SC. Thanks to years of experience, we can identify problems and get them fixed fast, so you can get back to your normal life. When you need an electrical contractor, call Mister Sparky of Florence at 843-375-6999.