4 Ways to Avoid Electrical Problems in Your Home

Unfortunately, electrical problems are inevitable. Perhaps your electrical system is facing general wear and tear due to age or an incorrect installation; regardless, there are ways to avoid electrical problems in your home that can cause lasting damage and costly repairs. 

Here are some of the common issues to look for and avoid: 

Blown fuses

Several things can lead to a blown fuse. The first is using an extension cord, which often will cause a circuit to shut off in order to prevent overheating. This is also known as a tripped circuit. Therefore, you may want to keep extension cord usage to a minimum. Additionally, it’s crucial to understand the amount of power your circuits can manage. Knowing this information allows you to avoid plugging in too many devices on one circuit. Remember that is never a good idea to exceed the amounts of amperage your circuits can handle. 

Electrical panel upgrades

While you may need to upgrade your electrical panel at some point, it’s essential to maintain it as much as you can to prevent damage. A great way to do this is to ensure that a secure covering protects your electrical panel. This will prevent wires from being exposed and further protect valuable parts from dust and moisture. 

Rewiring a house 

Maybe you’re moving into an old home or have discovered that it wasn’t wired correctly during construction and that you need to redo the wiring in your house. This can be an overwhelming job and one that can come with a lot of pitfalls and risks. Here are a few ways to avoid electrical problems when rewiring your home: 

• Understand local permit and code laws.
• Ensure that your main service panel is 100 amps. 
• Always ensure that quality electrical products are being used. 
• Space electrical outlets six feet apart. 
• Make sure that electrical outlets have three prongs.  
• Install ground-fault circuit interrupters in wet areas to prevent electrical shocks.

3-way switch and dimmer wiring 

Finally, we recommend ensuring that you have selected the right type of dimmer for your lights. The wrong one will result in them flickering or not working entirely. This could lead to severe electrical issues. Additionally, it is important that you know how many lights you can connect to the dimmer. As a general rule of thumb, it is best to ensure that power drawn does not surpass what the specific circuit can handle, causing electrical issues and creating a need for repair. 

While these tips can help, you’ll likely get the best results by letting an experienced electrician handle this. If you’re concerned about electrical issues and repairs, you don’t have to manage them yourself. The team at Plugged In Electrical can work with you and handle all your electrical needs. Allow a reliable and expert team to help. Call us at (404) 737-7945.