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Electrical Gremlins And Old Homes


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Electrical Gremlins And Old Homes

When I bought an old house because I fell in love with the charm, I was completely unprepared for some of the issues that come along with homes of that age. One of the biggest surprises to me was the electrical issues I experienced. Everything from having to unplug everything in the kitchen to use a compressor in the garage to tripped breakers from a single air conditioner left me frustrated and confused. I called an electrician and learned a lot during his inspection. If you are thinking about buying an old house, this blog is for you. I hope that my knowledge and first-hand experience can help you avoid some of the disasters that I faced.

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3 Signs The Home Electrical System Needs Repairs

As a homeowner, one responsibility that you have is to pay attention to the signs that your home is giving you that there's a problem that needs to be tended to. One system that you must constantly be on the lookout for issues is the home's electrical system. Here, you'll find a short list of signs that your home electrical system needs the attention of a professional electrician.

Breakers Tripping                            

The breakers in the breaker panel shouldn't trip very often at all. If they do, there's a good chance that there's something causing the breaker to become overloaded. When it overloads, the breaker trips and prevents overheating and electrical shorts that can lead to fires. If there's one particular breaker that keeps tripping, try unplugging all of the plugged in items in that area. Give it a couple of days and if nothing happens, chances are you simply had too much power being pulled from that one breaker.

Lights Dimming

Lights dimming from time to time isn't really anything to worry about, but when it happens consistently, there could be a problem somewhere in the home's electrical system. One problem that can cause the lights to dim is overloading the breaker. If you notice that your kitchen ceiling lights dim when the refrigerator kicks on, it's time to call the electrician and see about adding outlets tied to an alternate breaker.

Another problem that can cause the lights to dim often is a loose neutral connection in the electrical system. If this is the problem it will continue to worsen with time. If the problem isn't resolved, it can cause some serious damage to the home – you may even experience lightbulbs exploding in their sockets.

No Power at All

If you have an area of the home that isn't getting any power, then there's likely a break in the line somewhere or a malfunction in the breaker panel. This isn't something that you'll be able to resolve on your own – you will have to call in a professional electrician to have the problem diagnosed and repaired before too long. You don't want to suffer an extreme electricity bill a month from now from the home's electrical system leaking into the ground. This causes high bills and you don't enjoy any of the power that you're paying for.

Talk with your local electrician if you've noticed any of these issues around your home. Electrical problems can be dangerous – don't go without repairs for too long or you could find yourself rebuilding your home.