When Is a Good Time to Look For an Electrician?

Hiring contractors can be stressful, especially when you don’t know if it’s time to call an expert. If you want to keep your power on and prevent house fires, here’s when you should call an electrician.

House Age

Older homes are more prone to electrical problems, so it’s a good idea to call an electrician if you live in an older home and haven’t had your panel and wiring inspected in a long time. According to LinkedIn, it’s a good idea to call an electrician for an inspection if your home is more than 30 years old. For even older homes, you may be putting yourself at serious risk by prolonging an inspection.

Faulty Switches and Outlets

If some of the light switches or outlets in your home don’t work the way they should, that could be a sign of a major wiring problem. You might notice your lights flickering when you flip the switch, or maybe your outlets are warm to the touch or visibly burnt. Any problem with an outlet or light switch is a good sign that it’s time to call an electrician to check things out.

Repeatedly Tripped Breakers

It’s not unusual for circuit breakers to trip when they’re overloaded or faulty electronics are connected — that’s actually what they’re designed for. But if you notice a breaker constantly tripping even after you’ve unplugged appliances to lighten the load, you need to call an electrician to check out your electrical panel.

Sounds and Smells

You should hardly notice the wiring and panel in your house, so you’ve got a problem on your hands if you notice a strange sound or smell. As far as sounds go, you might notice a slight buzzing or humming sound coming from your walls, which is a sign of a wiring issue. You may also notice a burnt smell in your home, which often coincides with a visibly burnt outlet.

You count on having working power when you wake up every day, but that doesn’t mean that’s always the case. Not only can your electrical system stop working at any time, but it can also be a serious fire hazard. If you notice any of these signs that it’s time to call an electrician, call Volt Electric USA and schedule an inspection.