YOU HAVE THE POWER: Faulty electrical systems can cause fires, damages, injuries, deaths. Reason: Wiring deteriorates over time; plus, electrical systems are being used to he max these days, given the proliferation of home appliances.
Here area four common problems that you should hire an electrician to check for,
THE PROBLEM: Frequent blown fuses or tripped breakers
THE USUAL CULPRIT: Overloaded circuits. You may not be able to use certain appliances at the same time. The answer however doesn’t lie in substituting higher-capacity fuses to try to circumvent the problem. That can dangerous overburden the wiring, setting the stage for a fire.
Your electrician should inspect the wiring throughout your house and upgrade your capacity.
THE PROBLEM: You get am electric shock when you drop a hair dryer into a wet sink.
THE USUAL CULPRIT: You’ve failed to install a round fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) outlet, which can protect you against electrical shock by shutting off the power automatically if an appliance comes in contact with a water source.
These outlets are square, with receptacles fro three –pronged plugs, and there are buttons on the devices marked test and reset.
THE PROBLEM: Scorched or hot outlets, or sizzling sounds near outlets
THE USUAL CULPRIT: Loose wiring connections that are creating sparks behind the walls. The problem is called arcing and it’s a fire hazard.
THE SOLUTION: Immediately turn off he circuit breakers to this outlet and call an electrician to check the wiring. For extra safety, you might also ask him to install a relatively new outlet device called an arc fault breaker in your bedrooms, which shuts off the power when it senses arcing.
THE PROBLEM: Extension cords snaking around rooms to handle appliances and lights Relying on extension cords is dangerous because they can easily become overheated, posing a fire risk,.
THE SOLUTION: If you have even one in permanent use, consider adding a new outlet. An outlet every 6 feet is ideal.
