Electrical problems can occur anywhere where electricity is. Whether the issue is minor or major, electricity is hazardous and should not be meddled with if you have minimal to know experience or knowledge of it.
Before pointing the finger at the nation’s power system, we should check possible poor wiring in our homes. It may be outdated and will not be efficient in supplying electricity to the appliances, electronics, and lighting.
Circuits fitted during older days were not designed to power different types of modern-day electronic equipment or lighting.
When considering household electric appliances, your safety is the main goal. If you are facing high bills, flickering lights, and damaged appliances in your home, It is most likely that the home circuit is not in proper working condition. Be sure to contact an experienced professional to help you with your electrical problems.
Here are the most common electrical problems and solutions.
- Electrical surges
These are caused by high-voltage disruptions in the flow of electricity. This can be due to poor wiring in the house, lightning strikes, faulty appliances or damaged power lines. Surges are common and last for a microsecond however if you experience frequent surges, this can damage any electronic devices that are connected at the moment. An experienced electrician will diagnose and resolve the issue for you.
- Overloading
On many occasions, your light fixture has a bulb or other fitting with higher watts than the designed fixture. This is a code violation and the risk level is quite high. The high heat from the bulb can melt the socket and insulation found in the wires of the fixture. This results in sparks from one wire to another and causes electrical fires. Even after the bulb is removed, the socket and wires will still be under damage. It is always better to fit a bulb or any other fittings by staying within the wattage. If the fixtures are not marked with wattage, it is advisable to use a 60-watt bulb or even smaller ones. If you are unsure, please contact an experienced electrician.
- Circuit breaker keeps tripping
If your circuit breaker keeps on tripping, chances are the current circuit has detected some issues, hence the name ‘circuit breakers’ – they break up circuits when they sense something is wrong with the flow of current. Locate the main electrical panel in your home - where all the main control switches are. You will see a switch panel that has its switch turned off (for old switches) and partly off (for modern switches). Turn the switch back on. If the problem keeps occurring, contact an experienced electrician.
- Frequent bulb burnouts
There are a lot of reasons why bulb lights burn out much frequently. It can be due to high voltage, tightly fixed bulbs, improper air circulation, and so on. It is not always the actual bulb that is the issue. Check if the holder is either loose or it’s depleted. But if everything is fine and one bulb after another keeps going to waste, we suggest you consult with an electrician.
- No RRCB
An RCCB (Residual Current Circuit Breaker) or RCD (Residual Current Device) is a separate device used for detecting and preventing low voltage circuits if there is a current leak. The device will automatically turn off the switch if it detects a leakage while the current is flowing abnormally. An RCCB device is essential at home because it reduces the chances of electrical shocks. Get one installed by an experienced professional.
