Everyone needs home repairs and maintenance. As a homeowner, you must decide whether to perform repairs yourself or hire a pro. Some choose to mend themselves because they think they know how. Re-painting a wall or replacing a tile may not require specialized labor. For safety reasons, certified electricians must repair electrical faults.
Hot Outlets
Powering several devices generates heat. But the outlet shouldn’t get hot. If an outlet shows heat, unplug the cords and don’t use it until you figure it out.
With one exception: Dimmer switches get warm to the touch because they dissipate extra electrical energy to dim. But even dimmer switch cover plates shouldn’t be too hot. Before installing a dimmer switch, check the wattage to avoid heat excess.
Flickering Lights
Yes, Hollywood movies say flashing lights indicate ghosts. Loss of electrical connection is more likely. If only one light fixture flickers, the repair is generally easy. The problem may be further back in the circuit if it affects many lights or rooms.
The breaker box or utility drop outside your home may be the cause of flickering. Troubleshooting is best left to a licensed electrician.
Aluminum Wiring
Due to high copper prices, home builders used single-strand aluminum wire in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It felt like a decent approach to cut expenses since aluminum wire had been proven to substitute copper in lab experiments.
Exposed aluminum oxidizes faster than copper, causing heat and fires. It didn’t matter in well-controlled labs. Aluminum wire, especially branch circuits, was a fire concern in your flawed home.
Messy or Tangled Wiring
People of Florida don’t judge electricians based on how they look hence a proper and neat residential electrical repair hudson fl shows the dedication of performing the job. Cables that are neatly wound or run at a consistent angle along a joist will conduct electricity just as well as those that are disorganized and poorly laid out.
On the other hand, if the work is really disorganized or sloppy, it can mean that the electrical work was done quickly or not properly.
Ungrounded = Shocks
You might have grounding problems with more than just your gas line, which is something to keep in mind while we’re discussing grounding electrical systems. A sure indicator that your electrical system isn’t grounded correctly is if you touch a metal object that’s part of your home’s mechanical system and get a shock.
Of course, this is true for electrical appliances like ceiling fans and lights, but it also applies to things like water lines and furnace ducts. Keep in mind that these shocks are significantly stronger than static electricity pops, which are considerably less dangerous.
Appliances that require grounding will not be grounded if your electrical service is ungrounded but the receptacles have three prongs.
Bogus UL Stickers
UL-listed stickers on extension cables and smoke detectors indicate equipment and manufacturing facility inspection. Some manufacturers unfortunately use fake labels to avoid UL scrutiny. Be cautious of low-quality electrical gadgets; before you buy, check the sticker for any typos or other red flags.
