Most people can easily ignore the warning signs that their home has significant electrical issues, as they will be afraid of the cost and the time that will go into fixing the problem. What you should consider is that in the end you could have higher costs and perhaps be putting yourself and your family at risk. You might also be accidentally creating the electrical hazards in your house, simply by taking shortcuts and doing things because you’re ‘sure it will be fine’. This article details the most common electrical issues that you should look out for in your home, as well as some simple tips on how to avoid them in the first place.

The Most Common Electrical Issues in Your House

Problems With Lights

Faulty lights are an electrical issue that most people would quickly dismiss, but they can actually be a sign that there is a dangerous electrical problem behind the scenes. Your lights could be dimming or flickering when you have multiple appliances on, the bulbs could be burning out too quickly, the lights could be making a buzzing noise, or they might just generally be too bright or too dim. All of these issues could be a sign that there is a serious problem with your electrical wiring, which could eventually lead to an electrical fire or electrocution. If the lights are not bright enough you may just need some new light bulbs, but if the problem continues with the new bulbs, then you will need to call an electrician.

Circuit Breaker Issues

When your circuit breaker is tripping, it’s signally to you that there is an underlying electrical problem in your home. The circuit breaker protects you by discovering disruptions in electrical currents, and then breaking apart circuits to stop anything serious occurring. If your circuit breaker trips, always check what the issue was – it might be that you have too many appliances plugged in at the same time, or you have turned on an especially power-hungry device. If it’s a simple fix, then after you have solved the problem you can simply flip the corresponding switch on the main electrical panel back on. However, if your circuit breaker keeps tripping frequently, and you can’t figure out what the issue is, then it could be signalling something more dangerous that you can’t see – this is the time to call a professional to come and figure out what is going on.

Electrical Surges or Dips

You can usually tell when your home has experienced an electrical surge, because appliances won’t be working or will have switched off, or your circuit breaker may have tripped. Electrical surges usually last for less than a second, and can be caused by lightning strikes, plugging in high-powered appliances, faulty wiring, broken appliances, or trees touching power lines. If you’re experiencing frequent electrical surges, then the electrical components attached to your house could get damaged, it could break your appliances, and it may even cause an electrical fire. Electrical dips are similar, in that they can be caused by faulty appliances or devices being attached to your power grid. The appliance can draw too much power and then cause an electrical dip for the rest of the house. These problems can both be solved with a power inspection from your local electrician, but it’s also worth making sure all your appliances are new and work properly.

Electric Shocks

An electric shock is a serious warning sign that you have a dangerous electrical problem in your home. There are obvious risks with electric shocks, because they can be fatal, so you need to figure out what is causing them as soon as possible. Due to the many dangers, you shouldn’t try to fix the problem yourself, especially since it could be a complicated issue occurring out of sight. When you’re experiencing electric shocks from turning a device on or off, they are usually being caused by faulty wiring or a broken appliance. Even if the problem is only caused by the appliance you have plugged in, there is no way for you to know, and you will risk being electrocuted again if you test this – so the safest course of action is to enlist the help of an expert.

How to Avoid Creating Electrical Issues at Home

A lot of electrical issues in the home are caused by people trying to save money or time, and the simple fact is that there should be no shortcuts when it comes to your home’s electrical system. Luckily, there are a few easy things you can do to prevent electrical problems, and ensure that your home is a safe and secure place to be.

Tips for preventing electrical issues:

Don’t get your electrical appliances wet – and if you accidentally do, shut off the power supply immediately.
If you have children, invest in electrical outlet safety covers.
Make sure you pick the right bulb for your light fitting – this includes wattage and type of bulb.
Use power boards temporarily – otherwise they might overheat.
Protect electrical cords – don’t put them under rugs, close behind furniture or in high-traffic areas.
Don’t pull electrical cords out of the socket by the cord, always pull the plug.
Get an electrical safety inspection to make sure your home is secure.
Avoid using multiple appliances at once.
Don’t use too many extension cords and adapters.

Why You Should Call a Professional Electrician

If you have noticed any of these dangerous electrical issues in your home, then the best thing to do is call a qualified emergency electrician. They will be able to determine the cause of the problem and safely fix it, and you can ask them to give you advice on how to make your home more protected from electrical hazards. An expert Perth electrician will also be able to carry out an electrical safety inspection to discover any underlying electrical issues, and highlight any hazards that may need to be dealt with in your home.