There’s nothing quite like being a new homeowner. It’s a time of excitement, adventure, and becoming a DIY master. But with all that excitement also comes a few yikes-worthy electrical issues.
If you’re a new homeowner, chances are you’re already familiar with some of the common electrical issues that crop up.
However, from tripping breakers to flickering lights, it can get frustrating to figure out what’s happening with your new home’s wiring without a professional.
In any case that requires figuring out the electrical wiring in your home, calling a professional is always the number one answer. But it’s also essential to know the most common electrical issues. Having this knowledge makes it simpler to explain to your electrician what’s going on so they can get to the root cause quicker versus conducting multiple tests throughout the home.
So let’s review the 5 most common electrical issues you may encounter as a new homeowner.
Yikes! #1: The fuse box has a blown a fuse.
A blown fuse is one of the most common electrical issues that new homeowners experience.
Fuses are typically damaged when something draws too much power from the circuit. You can tell it’s damaged by looking right in the middle. Not only will you see signs of melts and burns, but there will also be a gap between the two bulbs.
Now, a blown fuse can shut down part of your electrical system, leaving you in the dark until you can replace it. The good news is that it’s usually easy to replace. In most cases, all you have to do is locate the fuse box (generally in the basement or in the utility room), identify the blown fuse, and replace it with a new fuse of the same amperage.
But before you touch anything, there are two crucial things to do.
1. Switch off all the appliances and lights before you replace the fuse. Turning them off will help prevent a possible surge and protect your electronics from damage.
2. Remember to check your circuit breaker to ensure it hasn’t been tripped. If it has, you may need to reset it before replacing the fuse.
If you don’t feel comfortable changing the fuse on your own, don’t hesitate to call an electrician. Since you already know the culprit, the electrician can help change the fuse quickly and easily.
Yikes! #2: The kitchen light keeps flickering.
No one likes flickering lights. And we can thank horror movies for that.
Unfortunately, flickering lights call for a diagnosis. So you start with the basics.
1. Do I have a faulty bulb? Grab a sturdy chair or ladder and check the light bulb. If it feels loose, tighten it a bit. If it looks damaged, try replacing it. And if the bulb is fine, move on to the next.
2. Is the light bulb socket damaged? For this test, you’ll need a circuit reader. It’s a tiny little device that tells you if an electric current is running through whatever the device touches. Simply place the device on the socket. If a light comes on, there’s electricity, and the socket is fine. If there’s no light, well. There’s your answer.
If you can’t pinpoint the issue after doing some inspection, then it’s time to call a professional electrician.
Yikes! #3: That one outlet in the room doesn’t work.
We’ve all experienced that one outlet that stopped working or never worked. And instead of fixing it, we fixed our immediate problem and plugged an extension cord into the working outlet.
Outlets that don’t work also call for an investigation. It could be due to a blown fuse, faulty wiring, faulty outlet, burned wires, etc.
Inspecting for the most common issues will require removing the cover, unscrewing the outlet, and uncovering the wires. Let’s leave that to the professionals. Touching and maneuvering through cables can be dangerous.
Instead, check for outside factors. For example, one probability you can quickly check off your list is in the fuse box. If the fuse is still intact, then call the electrician.
Yikes! #4: You accidentally cut into an electrical wire during a DIY project.
Accidentally cutting into a wire during a home improvement project can happen, especially if you don’t know where the cables run through.
Thankfully, it’s not as bad as it sounds—as long as the wire isn’t damaged. If you come across a wire that isn’t damaged, the best thing to do is to secure it safely. However, if it’s damaged, you’ll need to make repairs.
At this point, all repairs are beyond your DIY mastery. It’s best to call a professional electrician and let them fix the problem.
Yikes! #5: The circuit breakers keep tripping.
Your circuit breaker’s job is to protect an electrical circuit from damage. Damages are usually caused by having too many devices and appliances running in one circuit, like having the a/c on while vacuuming with other devices using the outlets.
The moment it detects that there’s too much going on, it’ll shut off. And that’s normal. But something’s wrong if everything is normal in your home and the breaker keeps tripping.
Once again, because the potential issues are coming from inside the breaker panel, a professional electrician must expose the wires to undergo a complete inspection.
The best thing you can do to prevent any damage to your breaker is to be mindful of all the appliances and devices used in one room.
Know what to look for, but always call an electrician.
As a new homeowner, there’s no escaping the electrical issues you’ll have to deal with. From blown fuses to flickering lights, it’s essential to know how to handle each issue before they cause significant damage.
And while you’ve mastered fixing common plumbing issues, troubleshooting the a/c, and even replacing parts in certain appliances, trying to DIY the electrical problems can be extremely dangerous or cause more harm than good.
So our tip to you as a new homeowner is:
Have the knowledge to understand what’s happening, but always call a professional.
For electrical services you can trust, Bratcher Electric in Wayne has the reputation and experience every homeowner can turn to. We can answer questions and provide tips but most importantly we can help by addressing your electrical needs. From backup power systems to rewiring and electrical code upgrades, our trained and experienced electrical team gets the job done right in a timely manner. Is it time for an electrical service maintenance? Make sure you are up to code and upgraded for optimal efficiency and safety!