Signs Your Electrical Wiring May Have Been Damaged
Outdated, damaged or otherwise just poorly installed and maintained wiring is not something that you can take lightly. Don’t let your household be one of those which catches fires due to a small error. In order to do that, make sure you keep your senses alert for these easy to spot warning signs of faulty low voltage electrical wiring.
1. Keep track of circuit breaker trips
It is very common for home circuit breaker to trip. That is actually what they are designed to do- shut off your power through the circuit as and when it is overloaded. In most cases, you can just switch it back on and continue doing your tasks. However, in case your circuit breaker trips very often- multiple times a month or more- that is a sure sign that there is a deeper, potentially dangerous problem in your home’s electrical wiring and that you are also taxing that circuit.
2. Look and listen for flickering, buzzing or dimming lights
Just because your circuit breaker has not tripped, does not mean there is no problem at all with your electrical wiring. Another symptom of outdated or damaged wiring from an old low voltage electrical installation is flickering, buzzing or dimming lights. If your lights buzz when they are turned on or flicker/dim when you use multiple appliances, this is a definite sign that your home’s wiring requires a professional upgrade.
3. Keep your eye out for frayed or chewed wiring
This condition is usually caused by rodents, pets, and amateur handymen. And any damaged wiring like this is. Significant shock or fire hazard. It is of utmost important that if you find or suspect that there is any problem of this kind, you must contact a licensed electrical contractor to inspect and replace the damaged wiring and look for any ancillary damage.
4. Search for discoloration, scorching and smoke
Keep an eye open at the outlet points in your home. If you notice any discoloration or scorch marks on your outlets, that is a sign that the wiring in your home has been damaged in some way and is releasing heat. That heat is already damaging your home and has the potential to do much worse if left unchecked.
5. Smell for burning and add odors
Use your nose to sniff out the source of the problem when you suspect an electrical issue in your home. Smell for any burning, smoky or odd odors at the point of outlets, as well as your electrical panel. Burning smell indicates that fire damage may have already started and, if that is the case, it is imperative to have it foxed by an electrical professional at once.
Author’s Bio: The author is an avid blogger. This article is about faulty electrical wiring.
