When you own a home, you typically learn pretty quickly in the first year that there are a number of problems you may deal with. Electrical issues, however, may arguably require the most attention, since they are more than inconvenient—they can be dangerous. Sure, an HVAC problem can leave you uncomfortable for a few hours—but an electrical problem could lead you to loss from a fire.
This is why we can’t stress enough how important it is to have a professional electrician inspect the wiring in your home every few years. This type of maintenance is a vital part of professional Hendersonville, TN electrical services, and without it you’re increasing the chance of having a problem.
Even with regular electrical maintenance, though, there’s always a small chance that an electrical problem can happen in your home. Therefore, it’s important that you be familiar with two of the most common signs of outdated wiring. These signs are:
Lights Flickering Throughout the Home
Sure, it’s fun to joke about how your house is haunted and just ignore this little, seemingly minor, electrical problem. However, ignoring this can be a big mistake. Flickering lights are almost always caused by a short circuit in your electrical system. That being said, if it’s just one lamp or light fixture having the problem, it may be that its bulb is burning out or that particular fixture needs to be replaced.
If, however, it’s impacting a whole section of your home, then the short circuit is somewhere deep within your electrical system. If your lights are flickering frequently, then it’s time to call in a professional as soon as you can.
Hot Spots on Switches or Walls
Have you ever touched a switch in your home or a spot on the wall to discover it’s hot to the touch? If it’s just a little warm, it may be nothing and it might not have even alarmed you a little bit. You probably just went on with your day without a second thought. This may particularly be the case if you have dimmer switches, as these get warm to the touch naturally—though even they shouldn’t be hot to the touch.
True hot spots usually indicate points in the electrical wire where current is flowing in a direction it shouldn’t be. Electrical current that is diverted to a point where it’s not supposed to go, like another wire or directly into the drywall, throws off energy as heat. This is what you feel when you notice a hot spot in your home.
This is indicative of a very serious breach in the electrical system—one that could even start a house fire. It’s important that if you notice this sign you need rewiring, that you give our pros a call as soon as you can—even if it is a dimmer switch. It’s better to be safe than sorry and have a problem ruled out!