When your electrical wiring is working well, it provides a whole range of conveniences including lighting, heating and cooling, and power for your electronics. But when it's not, it can create hazards in your home. Here's how to tell if there's a fault in your electrical installation that needs professional repairs.

5 Signs of an Electrical Wiring Problem

1. Flickering Lights

If a single lamp plugged into an outlet is flickering, the lamp itself may be at fault. Test it in a different area of the home. If it works correctly in an unrelated outlet, the wiring in the first outlet is likely damaged. Also, if any of the lights built into your home flicker, they will also need attention.

2. Breaker Problems

Your breaker trips to prevent your electrical wiring from overloading. An occasional breaker issue isn't a problem, but when it trips constantly, it's a sign your system isn't designed for the amount of load being placed on it.

3. Damaged Appliances

When your system shorts out or experiences surges, it can send a current through your appliances and electronics which is stronger than they're designed to handle. If they stop running after being plugged in, it's a sign the protections in place to prevent these problems aren't working correctly.

4. Buzzing Sound or Feeling

If you can hear or feel buzzing in switchplates or outlets, don't touch the area. Shut off the breaker, and call an electrician immediately. There is a stray current running through the area, and it may create an electrocution hazard.

5. Burning Smell

A wire which is overheating enough to damage its coating smells like burning plastic. By the time you notice this smell, significant damage has been done, and the risk of a fire is high. Call for help immediately if you detect a burning smell. 

If you see any of these signs in your home, call Gutridge Electric in Newark, OH. For over 35 years, they have provided Licking County and Muskingum County with A+ rated electrical wiring services from a fully licensed and insured team of electricians. To discuss your residential or commercial electrical project, call (740) 349-7624 or get in touch online.