Your safety when it comes to matters concerning household electrical is very vital to you and your property. Electrical problems always give you signs and symptoms before they cause damages. In case you find your lights keep on flickering or high energy bills from nowhere and if your appliances keep getting damaged are some of the sure signs that your electric circuit needs to get checked. To your surprise, you may find that your problem is simply a wiring issue. Below are some of the seven common wiring issues that when spotted, needs to be solved.
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Overlamping
Overlamping in simple terms refers to a situation where a fixture has a light bulb that has a higher wattage rather than what the fixture get designed for. It is usually a classic case of an electrical code violation.
The violation leads to high-level danger classification, as the bulb produces intense heat that may scorch or even in some instances melt the socket and wire insulation. There is a grave danger in this kind of situation as chances of causing electrical fire are very high.
The solution to this kind of problem is limiting your electrical appliances to the wattage recommended 60-watt bulbs or below.
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Junction Boxes left uncovered
The junction box is the place where splices get held, and electrical wires are connected. Damages to cables may cause a shock or other electrical injuries. Similarly, by any electrical terms, this is a clear code violation.
The danger level posed by this problem is relatively minimal only if the wires are not within reach.
The solution to uncovered junction boxes is straightforward as you are only required to buy a new cover and make sure it gets installed with the screws provided.
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Lights flickering and it’s not windy
Flickering lights when it’s not windy is not an electrical code violation. Flickering lights are a sign that cables are causing shorts when they move. According to electrical safety standards, light flickering gets classified as a high danger alert. Apart from the annoyance associated with flickering, chances of electrical fire starting are relatively high.
It’s advisable upon noticing this problem you contact your all day electrician or your utility provider and have your weather head replaced.
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Few power Outlets
When you have few power outlets for your heavy electrical consumption causes cases of high dependency on power strips and extension cords. Few power outlets get not classified as electrical code violation but its standard practice to have receptacles around 4 feet to 12 feet of the doorway.
This kind of violation poses minimal danger level only if your wiring gets done with a heavy-duty extension cord above gauge 14. Electrical fire may erupt in situations where undersized extension cords get used on heavy load.
The solution to this problem is simple as you only need to add more power outlets.
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No GFCIs
No GFCIs increases chances of electrocution if you are in wet areas like the kitchen and bathroom. GFCI refers to ground fault circuit interrupters. They are quite essential as they are responsible for shutting down the circuit in a record 4 seconds. The solution to this problem is contacting your all day electrician to assist in replacing your old receptacles.
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Over wired panel
It means that your panel has more circuits than it is required or rated to handle. Each panel board comes with a label that specifies the circuit it’s supposed to accommodate. The danger level is minimal.
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Aluminum wiring
This problem is usually encountered in old houses built in the ’60s, and 70’s when aluminum wiring got used. Today this kind of wiring is no longer considered safe for any wiring use. Such type of wiring poses a high danger risk even though it is not an electrical code violation.
