If you have a circuit that keeps tripping whenever you use electronics, it may be time to check if your breakers need to be replaced. Though they have a life expectancy of 30 to 40 years, breakers will eventually die and trip your circuits. By opening your panel and using a digital multimeter to check the voltage levels, you can easily see if your breakers are the problem. Just be careful when you work with live electricity! Which is why we suggest contact Gold Standard for a home visit: 561-602-8766 | info@goldstandardelectric.com
Flickering lights in your house could be a sign of a bad circuit breaker. But, it may not be the circuit breaker. Loose wiring is the most serious reason for flickering lights and a main cause of house fires. Shut off the light at the circuit breaker before removing the fixture to double check the wiring.
Are you going through a lot of light bulbs? Do you seem to be changing the same light bulbs time and time again? This could be a sign of a bad circuit breaker.
Are breakers being tripped Frequently? When too much power is being drawn a circuit breaker is designed to trip to protect your home. If you find that every time you are using certain appliances, whether it is the food processor or the vacuum cleaner, this may be a sign of wear or that the breaker may ready to fail. A Gold Standard electrician can help you determine if the breaker needs to be replaced or if your home needs an electric panel upgrade.
- Circuit breaker keeps tripping.
- Persisting burnt smell with no identifiable source.
- Several discolored or charred outlets and switches.
- You have old, outdated wiring.
- Lights that flicker, dim or blink.
- Warm or discolored wall plates.
- A burning odor emanating from switches or outlets.
- Circuit breakers tripping often or regularly blown fuses.
- Receptacles that crackle, sizzle or buzz.
- Any mild shock or even a tingle from appliances, receptacles or switches.
5 common causes of electrical fires
According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there are 28,600 electrical fires per year
1. Faulty outlets, appliances
Most electrical fires are caused by faulty electrical outlets and old, outdated appliances. Other fires are started by faults in appliance cords, receptacles and switches. Never use an appliance with a worn or frayed cord which can send heat onto combustible surfaces like floors, curtains, and rugs that can start a fire.
Running cords under rugs is another cause of electrical fires. Removing the grounding plug from a cord so it can be used in a two-prong electrical outlet can also cause a fire. The reason appliances have the extra prong is so they can be only used in outlets that can handle the extra amount of electricity that these appliances draw.
2. Light fixtures
Light fixtures, lamps and light bulbs are another common reason for electrical fires. Installing a bulb with a wattage that is too high for the lamps and light fixtures is a leading cause of electrical fires. Always check the maximum recommended bulb wattage on any lighting fixture or lamp and never go over the recommended amount.
Another cause of fire is placing materials like cloth or paper over a lampshade. The material heats up and ignites, causing a fire. Faulty lamps and light fixtures also frequently result in fires.
3. Extension cords
Misuse of extension cords is another electrical fire cause. Appliances should be plugged directly into outlet and not plugged into an extension cord for any length of time. Only use extension cords as a temporary measure. If you do not have the appropriate type of outlets for your appliances, hire an electrician to install new ones.
4. Space heaters
Because these types of heaters are portable, many times people put them too close to combustible surfaces such as curtains, beds, clothing, chairs, couches and rugs. Coil space heaters are especially dangerous in this regard because the coils become so hot they will almost instantaneously ignite any nearby flammable surface.
If you do use space heaters, use the radiator-type that diffuse heat over the entire surface of the appliance. These are less likely to ignite flammable items, but should still be kept away from them.
5. Wiring
Outdated wiring often causes electrical fires. If a home is over 20 years old, it may not have the wiring capacity to handle the increased amounts of electrical appliances in today’s average home, such as computers, wide-screen televisions, video and gaming players, microwaves and air conditioners.
You can learn more about this part of the article and more on home fires online at firerescue1.com
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