When was the last time you hired an electrician? If you can’t seem to remember, you probably don’t encounter many electricity-related problems in your home.
Nevertheless, when you come across an issue related to electricity, you’re strongly advised against trying to repair the defect on your own. DIY electrical work isn’t recommended due to the hazardous nature of this job, that’s why there is a myriad of 24/7 electricians in Abbotsford that perform electrical contracting.
These are the main warning signs that indicate it’s high time to hire an electrician.
Constant circuit breaker tripping
An important warning sign that you need to hire a 24/7 electrician in Abbotsford is the constant tripping of a circuit breaker. Although it’s normal for a circuit breaker to trip on an occasional basis, this shouldn’t happen regularly. This problem might be an indicator of a larger wiring issue, usually linked to overloading. An overloading scenario occurs when many high-power devices are used simultaneously.
If one of your circuit breakers keeps on tripping, it probably needs to get upgraded or the wiring to be repaired. It mustn’t be ignored, as such a minor issue might result in an electrical fire. In fact, the role of these fail-safe devices is to protect households from electrical fires. Therefore, overloaded circuits tend to switch off once they overheat.
Burning odor
Another telltale sign that indicates the need to hire an electrician in Abbotsford is the persistent burning odor in one of your rooms. If you cannot identify the source of the smell, it usually originates from somewhere behind the walls. The most common causes include short circuits and old wiring. The smell of wiring issues resembles burning wood or plastic. Check out the signs of burning around an electrical plug or outlet.
Sometimes, homeowners can identify the source of the burning odor to a fuse box or a socket. In such cases, the wisest thing to do is turn the power off immediately and contact a 24/7 electrician. Some homeowners might notice outlet discolorations in addition to the burning scent. Such discolorations point to the presence of faulty wiring behind a wall, which triggers small fires and sparks.
Main service panel deterioration
The main service panel is the core of electricity in your household. Therefore, homeowners in Abbotsford should hire an electrician upon noticing any signs of visible damage or deterioration around the panel. The most usual sign of wear and tear is the appearance of rust. Once a licensed electrician arrives at your house, he will determine whether the panel requires repair or replacement.
Warm or hot outlets
Another warning sign for Abbotsford residents to hire a 24/7 electrician is the presence of warm or even hot electrical outlets. Wiring with proper insulation isn’t supposed to emit too much heat. Otherwise, it indicates faulty wiring or an overloaded circuit. The following link, https://www.thespruce.com/what-is-electrical-circuit-overload-1152861, explains what happens when an electrical circuit overloads.
In case a socket is warm only on a particular device, it might indicate this device requires a dedicated circuit. The best person to assess the problem would certainly be an electrician.
Living in an old house
Abbotsford residents living in old houses built twenty or more years ago should consider hiring a licensed electrician. There’s a high likelihood that the electrical system hasn’t been upgraded and remains outdated. Bear in mind that modern electrical standards differ substantially from the older practices followed decades ago.
There are potential issues that might originate from old wiring systems. For instance, if you’re living in an old house, it’s highly likely that your wiring system not be grounded. It refers to having two-prong outlets that aren’t a good fit for three-prong appliances. The use of appliances with three prongs in two-prong outlets will probably result in an electrical shock.
Another possibility is for your wiring to be outdated that it won’t be capable of handling the necessary electrical load imposed by modern appliances. Your home might also not be compliant with the current codes, especially if it lacks ground fault circuit interrupters in local areas nearby water sources. An experienced electrician will inspect your system and determine whether it needs complete modernization or just a few safety features.
Exposed wires
Exposed wires are another issue of concern for homeowners in Abbotsford. If you happen to notice exposed wires in your basement or attic, it might indicate a pest problem as well. Rodents are infamous for gnawing on wires inside walls or around extension cords.
In such an unfortunate scenario, homeowners should hire an electrician to fix or replace the damaged wires, particularly those that run into the walls. However, they should also hire an exterminator to get rid of the rodents for such damage not to be caused once again.
Flickering lights
Another indicator of the need to hire a 24/7 electrician is the presence of flickering lights. Sometimes, a light might flicker because it requires replacement. Nevertheless, if lights flicker for no good reason, it might be the right time to hire a professional.
Furthermore, in most cases, flickering lights are caused by faulty circuit breakers, defective wiring, or dimmer switch issues linked to LED bulbs. Visit this website for some handy tips on fixing flickering lights.
A final note
Electrical work should always be trusted in the hands of professionals.
It’s too hazardous for homeowners to perform on their own!