Part 2: 10 signs your home may have an electrical problem

An improperly installed or poorly maintained electric system can be hazardous.

Electrical malfunctions cause more than 50,000 house fires each year, according to Electrical Safety Foundation International. The majority can be prevented.

To protect your home, start by checking your fuse box or breaker panel for the date of your last inspection. While most municipalities require an inspection only when an electrical system is modified during a renovation or an addition, it’s a good idea to have a professional inspect it every three to five years. Remember, your insurer requires you to keep your home properly maintained.

According to UL Solutions and other experts, here are signs homeowners shouldn’t ignore. Many require the services of a licensed electrician.

1. Visibly damaged wiring

Electrical wires can get damaged with age or due to pests and improper wiring. Be wary of frayed cables since they can cause a fire and lead to electric shock. If you notice chew marks, it’s an indication of rodents.

2. Hot outlets or switch plates

Touch all outlets and if they feel uncomfortably hot, it’s an indicator your home has faulty wiring. Although some electrical appliances emit heat during operation, an outlet should never get hot. Unplug the devices and don’t use the outlet until it is fixed.

3. Frequently blown fuses, tripped breakers

Circuit breakers trips and fuses blow in case of a fault in the circuit to protect the house from fire. If the fuses blow often or the breaker keeps tripping, something isn’t right. This can occur as a result of a wiring problem or by the use of too many extension cords which overloads the circuit. Consult a professional who may suggest adding circuits and installing extra outlets to handle the electricity demand.

If you notice a single piece of equipment like the vacuum cleaner causes the breaker to trip regardless of the outlets you use, the device could be the issue. Equipment like an HVAC unit, dryers, or other power-hungry appliances will need special circuits to handle the demand. If there is no excess power demand, but your fuses still blow, you may need an electrical panel upgrade.

4. Discolouration of sockets

A discoloured socket or light switch is a sign the wiring is heating up. In most cases, this happens due to a loose connection or faulty wiring. Such issues cause a short circuit, which leads to a mini fire that discolours the outer surface of the outlet.

5. Dimming or flickering lights

Light fixtures need a small amount of power. If lights begin to flicker this happens, in most cases, due to a loose electrical connection. If the problem affects multiple light fixtures in different rooms, there is a significant issue in the circuit. If the lights flicker or dim in the entire house, the problem is with the breaker box or the utility drop. This is a complex issue that needs a professional.

Dimming or flickering lights could also be a sign of an overloaded circuit. If the lighting fixtures share the same outlet with an appliance, they cannot draw enough power. Unplug the devices to see whether this resolves the problem. If it doesn’t, move the lights to another circuit.

6. Burning smells

New appliances may produce some strange odours a few minutes after turning them on. However, an odd persistent odour coming from outlets requires immediate attention. If you notice a burning smell in your house, the wiring could be overheating and melting the outer protective sheath. It signifies that potential fire damage has begun, and it can quickly spread to the surrounding materials. Disconnect every appliance from the circuit, manually trip the breaker and keep a fire extinguisher handy. Immediately call your electrician.

7. Unusual sounds

You shouldn’t hear any sounds from an electrical system. However, a damaged wire, loose connections, and other underlying issues can cause electric currents to jump, producing a buzzing sound. Fizzing and buzzing noises can also signify the electric current moves from the wires to another conductive object nearby. This happens when the protective sheath gets damaged. Whenever you notice such sounds from an outlet, stop using it until an electrician fixes the issue.

8. Electric shocks

If you touch your electrical fixtures and receive a shock, it means the electric system isn’t properly grounded. It may require updating and include the installation of ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to make the outlets safer. Kitchen and bathrooms should always have shock-resistant outlets since water is a good conductor of electricity.

9. Sparking

This is never a good sign. How you deal with it depends on where it’s coming from. If a breaker panel, fuse box or outlet is sparking, get an electrician ASAP. But a sparking appliance may mean that the fixture itself is damaged, in which case you need an appliance repair person.

10. Loose outlets

Regularly assess the condition of all outlets in your house. If you plug in a device and the outlet moves around, this can be dangerous. A loose outlet shakes the wires, loosening them, and disrupts the electricity flow leading to sparks, shock, and potential fire hazards. To fix this, first, turn off the power from the breaker. Unscrew the outlet, ensure the wires are in their respective terminals, then reattach the outlet and screw it in place.