As a property owner, it is important to make sure that you are never overlooking some potentially serious electrical problems. Of course, you need to first know just what those problems are so they do not become overlooked. Here are some of the major electrical problems that you need to keep an eye out for.
Something Doesn't Smell Right
You might be able to trace it to a specific spot, or you might be able to simply find a general area in which the smell is coming from. Whatever the case may be, if what you are smelling seems like something electrical is burning, you need to take immediate action. Failing to do so could result in a fire. Turn off the main power breaker inside of the electrical panel and contact an emergency electrician. If you see smoke and suspect that something is actually on fire inside of your walls, get out and call the fire department.
You Get Shocked When Plugging Something In
If you have found that you get a little bit of a shock when you plug something in, you will need to immediately get to the bottom of the problem so it can be resolved quickly. If the cord looks old or frayed, you need to stop using it. Either replace the item entirely or have a new cord put on it. If the problem is not a specific cord, it could be that the outlet is bad. This can happen over time and it is a problem that you can fix on your own with a few tools and detailed instructions, or you can call in a professional residential or commercial electrician to do it for you. A professional will not only be able to address the problem with the outlet itself, but he or she can determine if there are any problems with the wires that connect into the outlet as well.
Your Lights Are Dimming Without A Dimmer Installed
While there are devices that can be installed for the purpose of dimming your lights, if you do not have that, your lights should never dim on their own. If you are noticing a surge in power that is causing your lights to become extremely bright, this is also a problem, just as it is a problem for the lights in your home to go dim at random times. It could be that you are using a lot more power than your current electrical panel can handle. This is a common problem in older homes that still have an older panel, as not as much electricity may have been used back then. You will need a licensed electrician in order to swap out the old panel for a brand new one.
Should you decide that you need to call for the assistance of a professional electrician, either for one of these problems or others that you come across, you will want to be sure that you are hiring the best in your town.