How to Fix Weird Electrical Issues in Your Home Most Electricians Don't Know About
As a homeowner, dealing with electrical issues can be frustrating and dangerous. Many times, the problems seem weird and perplexing, leaving you wondering why your lights are flickering or outlets stopped working.
Before calling an electrician, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take to diagnose and even fix some common electrical problems. With a basic understanding of home electrical systems and some DIY tips, you can save money on electrician fees and quickly resolve many electrical gremlins.
Inspect Your Electrical Panel
The electrical panel, or breaker box, controls and distributes power throughout your home. It contains circuit breakers that trip and shut off when there is an overload or short circuit. Start troubleshooting by inspecting your electrical panel.
Look for tripped circuit breakers. Find circuit breakers that are switched to the "OFF" position. Switch them fully to the "ON" position to reset tripped breakers. This may resolve power issues if a breaker merely tripped.
Check for loose wires. Inspect wire connections to make sure they are tight and secure. Loose wires can cause intermittent electrical issues. Tighten any loose wires.
Look for signs of arcing or burning. Arc marks and burning inside the panel indicate dangerous electrical issues needing professional repair.
Consider updating an old panel. If you have an outdated fuse box or Federal Pacific panel, consider upgrading to a modern circuit breaker panel. These older types are prone to safety hazards.
Test Electrical Outlets
Outlets that stopped working or provide power inconsistently often stem from wiring problems. Thoroughly check your electrical outlets.
Plug in a tester. Inexpensive outlet testers plug into outlets to indicate wiring problems. They can detect open neutral, open ground, reverse polarity and other faults.
Check for loose wires. Inspect the backs of outlets for loose wire connections. Tighten any loose wires and secure them properly around outlet screws.
Look for backstab connections. Outlets wired through outlet backstabs are prone to loosening and failure. Rewire any loose backstab connections using the outlet screws instead.
Consider replacing old outlets. Upgrading to tamper-resistant outlets with tightened screw clamps can help resolve persistent outlet wiring problems.
Check for Electrical Shorts
Electrical shorts occur when bare live wires contact each other or grounded metal parts. Shorts can cause circuit breakers to trip, outlets to spark or lights to flicker.
Inspect wires for damage. Look for nail punctures, cracked wire insulation and other damage that exposes bare copper. Electrical tape can temporarily insulate small damaged wire sections.
Check wires in electrical boxes. Make sure wires are neatly secured and not touching each other in any electrical boxes, outlets or switches. Update any old or overstuffed electrical boxes.
Look for loose wire connections. Bad wire nut connections or loose screws on switches and outlets can cause intermittent shorts. Secure any loose connections.
Replace damaged cords. Frayed or cracked appliance cords can short and become fire hazards. Don't repair damaged power cords; fully replace them.
Troubleshoot Lighting Problems
Flickering lights and lamps that won't turn on often result from loose lightbulb bases and worn components. Troubleshoot your lighting fixtures.
Try new lightbulbs. Use proper wattage bulbs and make sure bulbs are fully screwed in. Test with new bulbs, as old bulbs often flicker or burn out.
Inspect sockets for damage. Look for cracked, loose or badly worn light sockets, which can cause poor contacts and flickering. Replace any damaged sockets.
Check fixture wiring. Make sure wiring is secure in light fixture electrical boxes. Replace any deteriorated wire insulation and tighten loose connections.
Clean fixtures. Dirty bulbs and light fixture components reduce electrical contacts. Clean fixtures thoroughly before further troubleshooting.
Consider hiring an electrician if the issue persists after troubleshooting fixture components. Some lighting electrical issues require professional repair work.
By systematically inspecting your home’s electrical system and troubleshooting problems, you can resolve many weird electrical gremlins on your own before calling an electrician. Always exercise caution when working with electrical wiring and components. Making DIY repairs safely and properly helps avoid unnecessary electrician fees and electrical hazards.