When should you get electrical services? Most people would only have an electrician come to their home in extreme circumstances, such as a power outage. However, several hidden dangers in your home could warrant immediate repairs by an electrician to minimize fires or other serious perils.
Here are seven dangers in your home that require urgent attention and electric services.
Arc Flash
An arc flash is a very serious and potentially deadly problem in the home. International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (interNachi) describes an arc flash as “an arc flash occurs when a flashover of electric current leaves its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to another, or to neutral or ground.” It can result in an explosion of sparks that could cause a fire or death by electrocution.
Arc flashes may occur due to excess dust, condensation, or corrosion on the electrical wiring. Component failure or faulty installation can also cause this problem. You’ll typically know that you’re at risk for this peril if you see scorch marks on the panel of your breaker box. However, since most electrical systems are behind walls in your home, you may only know of the threat once an accident happens.
While an electrician inspection may not be at the top of your home maintenance list, it is important to have one come out every three to five years to inspect your wiring, especially if your home is over 30 years old. This inspection, conducted by a professional electrician, is instrumental in preventing the possibility of arc flashes.
Flickering Lights
When you’re at home enjoying your favorite book or doing regular chores and see the lights flickering, don’t dismiss it as paranormal activity. Instead of jumping to supernatural conclusions, consider that this is usually an indication of potential dangers such as faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, or other electrical issues. An electrical contractor can identify and resolve these problems, preventing potential arc flashes, fires, or electrocution.
Outdated Wiring
When purchasing a home, you may be so excited about how beautiful the home is on the surface that you don’t realize the home could have hidden dangers. Even if you get a home inspection to close the deal, a home inspector is only required to check your home’s visible wiring and light fixtures.
If your home is over 30 years old, you may have issues with the wiring that could lead to arc flashes or flickering lights. If you have severely outdated wiring, you may risk having high utility bills and a potential fire. You may have to hire an electrician to replace some or all of the wiring in your house to minimize the harm old wiring can do.
Faulty Washer and Dryer Wiring
Another reason you may want to get the help of an electrician is that your washer and dryer may be putting you and your family at risk. According to a report by the National Fire Protection Association, dryer and washing machine fires cause an average of 15,970 fires per year. In most cases, this may be due to an owner’s failure to clean the appliances properly. However, the report determined that 26 percent of the cases were due to faulty wiring. To avoid a fire in your home from these appliances, it is a good idea to call an electrician to check your outlets and the wiring for your appliances.
A Bad Fuse Box
The fuse box is the hub of all electricity in your home. When it’s on, electricity surges throughout the home nonstop. If it is off or “trips,” it stops this flow of electricity. A bad fuse box could cause several problems.
If your fuse box isn’t working correctly, it could cause power outages in specific areas of the home. For instance, if you have a sunroom in your home with electrical outlets and lighting fixtures that don’t work, this could be due to a problem with the fuse box wiring in that area. Your fuse box may also have corroded wires, which could lead to problems, including electrical fires.
It is a good idea to have an electrician inspect a bad fuse box to minimize problems. A fuse box typically lasts about 50 years but needs upgrades every 15 years. An electrician may need to upgrade or replace your fuse box.
Overloaded Extension Cords
Ultimately, the best way to prevent the problem of overloaded extension cords is not to do it in the first place. Overloaded extension cords are ones that have too many things plugged into them. This issue could cause a fire. Also, plugging things into an extension cord, such as a space heater, could overload the extension cord. While you may not need an electrical contractor to help with this, if you have minimal outlets in your space, they can add more so you don’t have to overload extension cords.
Electrical Systems That Are Not to Code
Many DIYers may do some things with wiring that is not to code and could put them and their family at risk for electrical shock or fires. In most states, only a licensed electrician can change the wiring. Unfortunately, you may be living in a home that has some DIY electricity in it.
Before you purchase a home, an inspector will usually be able to inform you about wiring that isn’t up to code. However, if this wiring is behind walls or not apparent to the inspector, they may not be aware that someone did DIY work with the electrical wiring. If you have wiring in your home that is not to code, you will need an electrician to properly install the wiring and ensure it meets proper building standards.
Are you experiencing any of these hazards that could put your home at risk? At Bratcher Electric in Wayne, we aim to provide top-of-the-line customer satisfaction by performing quality work to meet your electrical needs.
Contact one of our qualified electricians to inspect and correct any issues you may face with the residential electrical work. Keep in mind that we also offer commercial and industrial electrical services for your local business.