It's important to understand the silent signs you might have electrical problems in your Florida home. When you know which signs to look for, you can seek professional assistance and address complications before they intensify. Expert home electrical repairs and replacements provide peace of mind and can help reduce future repair costs.
Importance of Noticing the Silent Signs of Electrical Problems
Electrical complications are obvious when you lose power or your appliances stop working, but you should also know how to identify the more subtle signs that your electrical systems need attention. Regular electrical inspections can increase your home's safety, and they are especially necessary for Florida homes susceptible to tropical storm damage.
Silent Signs You Might Have Electrical Problems in Your Florida Home
The following signs can help you identify potential electrical complications and protect your home.
Flickering Lights
The lights may be flickering in your house due to loose electrical connections, voltage fluctuations or excess voltage. If you notice a single light fixture flickering, you may need to tighten a lightbulb, replace the bulb or adjust a plug. However, flickering in multiple rooms or light fixtures may mean that a connection farther back in the electrical circuit or breaker box requires repair. Contacting a licensed electrician is the best option if you experience multiple light fixtures flickering. Professionals have the tools and experience to identify your system's precise needs.
Hot Outlets
It's normal for electrical appliances to generate heat while operating, but outlets themselves should not. If an outlet is hot to the touch, immediately unplug the cords connected to it and contact a professional electrician for inspection and repair.
Burning Odor
A burning smell is a sign that your electrical system's wiring is hot enough to melt its plastic covering. Immediate action is essential in this case. You should contact an experienced electrician to check for potential complications, such as the following:
- Faulty wiring
- Overloaded circuit
- Frayed appliance wires
- Circuit breaker complications
- Damaged outlet
Loose Outlets
If the inside of an electrical outlet moves around when you plug a light or appliance in, finding and addressing the cause quickly prevents the outlet from shaking its wires free. An electrician can inspect your outlet and determine which of the following causes they need to address:
- A loose electrical receptacle
- An electrical box that's set too deep in the wall
- A loose electrical box
In minor cases, you can tighten an electrical receptacle or electrical box's screws while an outlet's power source is turned off if you feel comfortable doing so. However, you should contact a professional if you're unsure how to make the proper repairs.
Old or Tangled Wiring
Inspecting your existing wiring closely can reveal the type of wiring the original electrician installed and how well they installed it. One factor to look for is aluminum wiring, which became popular in the 1960s and 1970s due to copper shortages. This type of wiring poses safety concerns, so you'll want to schedule a new wire installation if you notice any of your existing wire jackets featuring words or initials such as "ALUMINUM," "AL," "ALUM," or "CO/ALR."
Another factor to look for is tangled wiring. This indicates that the original electrician may have rushed the original electrical system installation. If your electric box appears crowded or the lines are excessively tangled, consider scheduling an inspection to ensure top safety.
Rodent Activity
Signs of rodents, such as nest materials or droppings, may seem unrelated to your electrical systems. However, you should check your wiring for chew marks any time you notice rodent activity. If they chew through a wire until it's completely bare, you will need a replacement wire to prevent overheating or sparks. Contact an expert for professional replacement if you notice any signs of chewed wires.
Understanding the Subtle and Obvious Signs of Power Outages and Surges
It's also important to recognize when your home has an electrical outage or power surge. These occurrences can lead to complications requiring professional attention.
What Is the Top Cause of Florida Electric Outages and Power Surges?
An electric outage causes your home to temporarily lose power, and a power surge is a sudden voltage increase that can damage plugged-in items.
Hurricanes and tropical storms are common causes of Florida electrical outages. However, outages can also occur due to fallen trees, traffic accidents, human error, equipment failures and high demand. Power surges can result from lightning strikes, faulty wiring, power coming back on after an outage or high power demand.
What to Do After a Power Outage or Surge
Sudden loss of power and a rapid return of power are the most obvious signs of an outage or surge, but you may also notice a burning smell or flickering lights during or after a surge. If you lose electricity or experience a power surge, you should report the occurrence to your utility provider.
You can also look for visible signs of damage on your electronics and appliances and contact an electrician to inspect your systems following a surge. Electrical damage may be unnoticeable during or directly after a storm, so scheduling an inspection is an excellent way to identify and address complications.
How a Florida Residential Electrician Can Help
Professional electrical services provide you with peace of mind and cost savings. When you trust an experienced electrician to evaluate and maintain your systems, you can prevent further complications and save money on significant repairs. Mr. Electric of Land O' Lakes offers the following electrical services to help you increase your home's safety.
Safety Inspections
Mr. Electric's team offers expert electrical safety inspections in Land O' Lakes. We thoroughly examine electrical systems and identify areas requiring attention. You can count on our experts to recommend improvements and upgrades when they would benefit your home's safety, functionality or efficiency.
Repairs
As an electronic repair company in Land O' Lakes, Florida, our services consist of the following:
- Electrical panel repair
- Wiring upgrades
- Electrical outlet replacement
- Lighting repair service
- Ceiling fan repair
Address Your Home's Electrical Needs Safely and Effectively With Mr. Electric of Land O' Lakes
Understanding the subtle signs of electrical complications is essential because it enables you to address damage before it worsens. Professional electricians can address complications caused by faulty wiring, power surges, loose components, excess voltage and chewed wires. The sooner you schedule an inspection, repair or replacement, the more peace of mind you can have about your home's electrical systems.
Mr. Electric of Land O' Lakes offers expert home electrical safety inspections and electrical repair services to meet your needs. Our team prioritizes safety, integrity and quality and is dedicated to delivering top-notch services that exceed industry standards. Schedule an appointment with Mr. Electric, or learn more about our services and how we can help you maintain safe electricity.
