10 Signs You Need To Call an Electrician
If there’s a problem with the electrics in your home, you might not be sure if it’s a job for the pros or something you can fix. Perhaps you’ve Googled a few of the issues encountered, or even watched a couple of electrician-led tutorials on YouTube. And finally, you are ready to repair your electronics, right? Wrong!
Sadly, every year dozens of people are injured (and sometimes even killed) attempting to repair electrical faults in their homes. When it comes to electrical faults, it’s always better to call an electrician than go it alone. Remember, electrical currents can prove lethal. They can cause seriously destructive fires and are capable of triggering some pretty phenomenal bangs. Fully-qualified electricians are equipped with years of electrical knowledge and expertise. It’s an electrician’s job to shield you from danger – to take on the tricky, risky stuff so you don’t have to.
So, if you’re still not sure if it’s time to call your electrician, here are the top 10 tell tale signs:
1) You’re thrown in to the dark time and time again
If the electrical circuit breakers in your home trip often or your fuses are blowing more frequently than they should, it’s time to call an electrician. It’s likely that your circuits are drawing more electrical current than they ought to, which may indicate a potentially dangerous fault in one (or more) of the circuits in your home.
2) Lights wane and flicker
When you switch a few lights on, do the ceiling lights dim? Some motor-driven appliances draw a great deal of current and should be wired on dedicated circuits. Small appliances may also cause problems, in which case you might like to consider installing an additional line in order to service them.
3) Octopuses abound
If you’re devoted to your multi-receptacle add-ons and plug strips, call an electrician. Your system may be working well beyond capacity, so require additional circuits to restore safety (and minimise disorder).
4) Bumpy rugs
If your living spaces are striped with wires, which you’ve attempted to disguise under rugs and items of furniture, call an electrician. He or she will simply install however many new outlets you need. Trailing wires are tripping hazards and may trigger an electrical fire, so act fast. Wires shouldn’t need to be covered with carpets and cupboards – they should make your life easier, not more difficult.
5) Your home boasts “original features”
By today’s standards, old-fashioned wiring and plug sockets are unsafe and need to be updated. (Check antique light fittings in particular, as these may prove especially dangerous. And remember, older appliances can be updated too.) Your system may not be fully grounded.
6) Your wires are cloth covered
If the wires in your home are cloth covered and not plastic, or you’ve come across scraps of black rubber whilst removing switch covers or outlets, call an electrician. Antiquated electrics pose a significant risk.
7) You’ve got that warm, tingly feeling
Walk around your home and lightly touch switches, outlets and any other electrical-system surfaces. Do any of them feel warm to the touch? Other important signs to look out for are blackening or discolouration on switch plates and wire ends or mild shocks. Problems such as these may indicate a range of problems, which are best left to the professionals.
8) Your kitchen or bathroom is dilapidated
If your kitchen or bathroom hasn’t been updated for some time, you need to be vigilant. Call an electrician if your home isn’t entirely code compliant. In wetter areas, electrics need to be particularly well protected from residual moisture and monitored closely. Asking an electrician to look over any electrics in your kitchen or bathroom will restore your peace of mind.
9) Beware rust
Any rust or moisture found beneath your home’s primary service panel is a cause for concern. If you’ve come across rusty patches or rust-coloured residue it’s time to act. Deterioration of this type could indicate further problems throughout your electrical system and needs to be flagged up as soon as possible.
10) Your home is more than 25 years old
Whether your home is 25 years old or 225 years old, if it hasn’t been modernised in the last 20 to 25 years then it’s possible that you’re electrics are antiquated or decaying. An electrician will inspect and assess any electrical flaws or age-related damage, bring your home up to standard and restore you and your family’s safety and security.
If you’re in any doubt as to the condition of the electrics in your home, simply get in touch with us for a chat. We operate in Plymouth, South Devon. Call us today on 07877168149 or 01752 261467