The electrical work in your home must be maintained to enjoy a safe and comfortable residence. And these systems unfortunately cause some 51,000 house fires every year, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International. That’s why it’s important to be aware of the most common issues people experience with their residential electrical systems so you can maintain yours and stay safe. 

5 Most Common Residential Electrical Work Problems

1. Flickering Lights

Flickering lights indicate connection issues. If all or most of the lights in your home begin to flicker, you probably have a main wire connection problem. If the issue is localized, such as a flickering bulb in one room, you are likely dealing with either a loose switch connection or a faulty switch.

2. Tripped Circuit Breakers

Circuit breakers trip when a connection is loose or too many powerful appliances are plugged into one outlet or power strip. Removing at least one of the plugs and resetting the breaker are usually enough to correct the problem.

3. Sparking Outlets

While a brief spark from plugging in an appliance is normal, outlets that spark because of water exposure, short circuits, low-quality repairs, or age-related wear should be replaced by your local electricians.

4. Power Outages

Full-blown power outages, also known as blackouts, generally occur for one of three reasons: a short circuit in the home, extreme weather, or a utility company issue. Unless you know the problem is because of a short circuit in your house, you simply have to wait until the utility company corrects the issue.

5. Power Surges

Another electrical work issue often related to your utility company is a power surge, which can occur when they implement changes to the main grid. A power surge can also happen when you turn off an appliance that uses a lot of energy. Panel-mounted surge suppressors and plug-in suppressors are the best ways to protect against this issue.

RM Electrical in Belleville, IL, provides the safe, efficient electrical services residents and business owners throughout Monroe, St. Clair, and Madison counties need. The owner is present for every job for your peace of mind. Work with this family-owned and -operated company whenever you need electrical work. Simply call (618) 939-0422, or visit the website for your free estimate.