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14 Common Electrical Problems Everyone Must Know

Electrical problems can be scary. They don’t just damage the appliances but also pose a risk to life and property. Issues like high electricity bills, flickering lights, etc., indicate an electrical problem. Let’s look at 5 common electrical problems and solutions.

1. Poor circuit protection/ No RCCB

   Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB) is a device that detects and prevents low voltage circuit if there is a current leak. It disconnects the load from the main supply when the circuit has residual current.

   Solution: Get an RCCB installed as it gives protection against direct and indirect currents, shock, and electrical fire.

2. Grounding Issues

   • No GFCI Installed

     GFCI breaks the circuit if there is an imbalance between incoming and outgoing currents. Without GFCI, there is a risk of overheating of electrical wires, shocks, burns, or an electrical fire.

     Solution: Get GFCI installed if you don’t have one already.

   • Ungrounded Connections

     These are connections that do not have a grounding system as an added failsafe. Grounding provides a pathway for the excessive current to flow in case of a short circuit.

     Solution: Make sure all the connections are grounded and you have proper grounding system.

3. Lighting Problems

   • Light Bulbs Burn Out Too Frequently

     If your light bulbs go out too often, it could indicate electrical problems. Bulbs can burn out if:

     1. Wattage is too high,
     2. High voltage,
     3. Improper air circulation,
     4. The bulb is fixed too tightly,
     5. Bad wiring on mains or circuit

     Solution: If you face this problem often, check if the holder is loose. Bring in a professional to determine the root cause of Electrical Burnout.

   • Flickering Lights and Too Bright or Dim Lighting

     If you notice the lights flickering or if one is brighter or dimmer than the others, there could be two reasons for that. They either consume different wattage of power or the main power panel has technical problems.

     Solution: If the bulbs are of different wattage, there would be no issue, but if there is a problem in the power panel, you need to call a professional.

4. Electrical Shocks

   You may experience electrical shocks when you turn an appliance on or off. Even if the shocks are mild, it is an indication that the appliance has an electrical problem, or there are issues with the wiring.

   Solution: You can plug in another device and see if you face the same problem. If the results are reproducible, call in an electrician to fix the problem before anyone gets hurt.

5. High Electricity Bills

   Some reasons why you may get a high electricity bill are:

   1. Damaged wiring and circuit
   2. Leakage in electrical systems
   3. Electrical devices are outdated and consume more power

   Solution: You can reduce the cost of electricity bills by switching to more cost-effective devices and unplugging appliances when they are not in use as suggested by zero-waste blogger. Repairs damaged wires and identify electrical devices that may be causing power surges.

6. Electrical surges

   It usually occurs due to poor electrical wiring in the house, faulty appliances, damaged power lines, or when lightning strikes. Electrical surges are common electrical problems, and they last for a split of a second. If there are frequent surges, they can damage the equipment and lower its life expectancy.

   Solution: Check your electrical connections that connect the device to the home grid. Disconnect the poor quality power boards or devices from the outlet. The surges should stop; if they don’t, you must call an electrician.

7. Power sags and dips

   When electrical appliances are connected to a faulty or a low-quality power grid, sags and dips occur. When you turn on the devices that are connected to the cheap or faulty power grids, they consume more power than what the device can handle. This cause sags and dips.

   Solution: If you want to experience improved lighting and lower power consumption, have your power check and replace your old device with a new one.

8. Overloading

   The light fixture you may be using for your high-watts bulbs or other fittings could be designed for low voltage. This violates the code, increasing the risk of melting the socket and wire insulation of the fixture due to high heat from the bulb. This can cause electrical fires.

   Solution: Fit the right bulb to the right fixture. If you are unsure of the wattage the fixture can handle, it is safe to use a 60-watt or a smaller bulb.

9. Switches of light not working

   A switch not working is a result of poor workmanship or poor quality of products. It can also be a fault in wiring, circuit, or outlet.

   Solution: Consult an electrician for this issue.

10. An uncovered junction box

    Junction boxes contain a lot of wires that are connected to each other and are designed to keep one section of wires away from the other. These boxes also protect the wires from getting damaged. An uncovered junction box increases the chances of electrocution.

    Solution: Get it covered by a professional with the screws provided.

11. Overcircuited panel

    Your electrical panel is designed to accommodate a certain number of circuit breakers. These breakers fit into slots. A tandem breaker looks like two switches, but it doesn’t need two slots. So, when people place tandem breakers in one slot instead of two single-pole breakers, they over-circuit the panel. An over circuited panel is a fire hazard and causes harm.

    Solution: Call an electrician to replace the panel with a bigger load or add a sub-panel.

12. Tripping circuit breaker

    If too many high power consuming items are drawing power from the same source, there are chances of your breakers getting tripped – it’s a good sign, though – it means your home is protected.

    Solution: Reduce the number of high power-consuming appliances drawing power from the same source. Or use lower settings. If this doesn’t fix the problem, call the electrician to check the wiring and figure out what causes the tripping.

13. Backstabbed wires

    Backstabbed wires are wires with holes and cuts in them, thus exposing live wires and increasing the chances of electrocution is there is direct contact with them.

    Solution: Turn off your power supply and cover the cuts and holes with tape. This fix is temporary, and the situation can become hazardous when the tape comes off. So, it is best to get a new wire fixed.

14. Aluminum wiring

    Aluminum is a metal and is more susceptible to oxidation when conducting electricity. So, when it comes in contact with other combustible materials like wood, plastic, etc., it can cause a fire.

    Solution: Use copper instead of aluminum. Copper is cheaper and equally ductile, but it doesn’t have the oxidation properties of aluminum.

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7 Signs You Should Call An Electrician Immediately.

1. Visible Sparks

Sparks can be visible in the wiring when you connect to an outlet or turn on an appliance. This could mean that there is a short-circuiting, a sign that the device is already hazardous. It may also happen if the live wires from an outlet touch the ground wiring.

Plugging a socket with sparks could mean faulty wiring. The sparks can cause fires or burn one’s skin. You may need to replace the device that already has sparks.

2. Blowing Fuses

The purpose of a fuse is to blow up once there’s a surge in demand. The fuse can blow up due to using several appliances at once or multiple devices to an outlet via an extension cord. If the fuse blows up and the circuit breaker trips frequently, this might mean that they are damaged.

Don’t go near the fuse box after they have blown up or if your circuit breaker trips. The fuse panel will need replacement or change to a modern circuit breaker for your safety.

3. Flickering Lights

Flickering or the erratic turning on and off of the lights is a sign that your lighting fixtures may need to be replaced. It may also be that the electricity supply or distribution is unstable.

The common cause of flickering lights is the bulb that is already defective. Another would be appliances that consume large amounts of power upon starting up, causing the voltage to drop momentarily. The light bulb may need replacement if it’s the cause of flickering lights, or you may need a more stable power supply.

4. Humming or Buzzing Sounds

You may hear strange sounds that you can’t outright identify the source of. This could be humming or buzzing from the electrical devices installed on your property.

The electrical hum or buzz can be due to overloaded wires, a bad wiring connection, or a grounded wire that’s not installed properly. An electrician can assess the sounds and determine their cause. They may fix the wiring or other devices that are causing the humming and buzzing sound.

5. Older Home and Systems

Older homes are more prone to incidents with their outdated electrical systems. There are newer, more advanced, and safer electrical installations.

Some old homes have a knob-and-tube wiring system, while others have copper wiring installed. The wiring installation can be unsafe due to the wear and tear from the years of usage. Thus, the need to update them to modern options.

6. Not Enough Outlets

Using too many extension cords due to a lack of accessible outlets is hazardous as you may unknowingly overload the outlets. If you’re also remodeling your property, you will have to consider the number of outlets you need for the new remodel.

Plugging in too many appliances to an extension cord to the outlet can overload and bring the power demand higher. This can cause the circuit breaker to trip and can be hazardous. You may need to add more outlets that will meet the demand.

7. Burning Smell

Any smoking or burn-like smells are a tell-tale sign that something is wrong with any of your electrical fixtures. The circuitry and wiring inside could already be unknowingly burning.

Once you notice any burning smell, you must call an electrician to inspect the wiring and other electrical equipment installed. They could already be damaged without you knowing.

8. Tingling or Shocks

Have you ever noticed a tingling feeling or a bit of electrical shock when coming in contact with appliances or connecting to an outlet? This could be a sign of damage inside.

Minor tingling is a sign that the electricity is already leaking. Experiencing shocks can be hazardous as the person may fall or lose consciousness from extreme electrical shocks. An electrician can assess the problem which causes the tingling or shock from the electrical installation inside your property.

9. Outlet Feels Warm To Touch

Electrical outlets have protective barriers that provide insulation whenever one connects appliances. If they feel warm or hot when you touch them, it may indicate overloading of the outlet.

Once the electrical outlet feels warm to the touch, this could be a sign that the outlet is already overworked. You might be plugging too many appliances or have a higher voltage demand.

10. A High Electric Bill

Having an electric bill that’s higher than the usual – even without adding any appliances – can mean there’s an unknown surge or demand for electricity.

You could be having a higher phantom power or standby power. This is the amount of electricity that you’re wasting when electronic devices and appliances are plugged in despite not using them.