Electricians maintain and repair electrical power, communications, lighting, and control systems in homes, businesses, and factories. They are trained to recognize and address any issues before they become dangerous – saving homeowners money and potential fire hazards in the process.
If you notice any of the following signs, it is time to call an electrician. You can research the best electrician near me online to find a suitable, and reliable service.
Flickering Or Dimming Lights
Flickering lights are a warning sign that you have an electrical issue that needs to be addressed immediately. This problem isn’t just annoying; it could cause an electrical fire that puts your family’s safety at risk.
A licensed electrician can check your home’s wiring to see if it’s damaged or outdated. Loose wiring can cause an issue called arcing, which happens when electricity jumps across gaps in the connection and creates a fire hazard.
If the flickering only occurs when certain appliances are running, this indicates that your house can’t manage the amount of power they draw.
Sparks
If you see sparks coming from your electrical wiring, it is definitely a sign to call an electrician. Sparks can indicate that there is an electrical fire in your walls, which can be very dangerous if left unchecked. It’s also a good idea to look for other signs, such as popping or buzzing sounds and strange smells.
Sparks are created when electricity passes from a higher to lower level of potential energy. Lightning is a natural example, but electric sparks can also occur when working with metal and other materials.
Insufficient Number of Outlets
In many homes, there aren’t enough outlets to accommodate modern technology and household appliances. If you find yourself running extension cords around the house, this is a clear sign that you need to hire an electrician to add more outlets.
If you have more than two appliances plugged into a single outlet, this is a fire hazard and should be immediately addressed by a licensed electrician. You should also be on the lookout for black or brown spots on switches and outlets. These spots indicate that there is a small fire in the outlet’s wiring, and this can cause a dangerous shock or a house fire.
Hot Or Warm Outlets
A warm outlet is a sign that something is wrong and needs to be addressed. It doesn’t necessarily mean a fire is going to start right away, but it does indicate that an electrical problem exists and that you should call an electrician for professional help.
If an outlet feels warm, you should first unplug it and let it cool. Then you can check what was plugged into it. Many modern devices like cell phone chargers, cordless drills and printers use a special type of transformer to change the voltage input into a different output, which can cause an outlet to feel warm when plugged in.