Electrical failure or malfunction was the cause of an estimated 44,880 house fires per year between 2012 and 2016. Many times, these failures were the result of an unintentional discharge of current between conductors. Noticing signs of faulty wiring and calling an electrician before the problem progresses can help you avoid serious damages in the future.

How to Tell if Your Home Has Faulty Wiring

1. Dimming or Flickering Lights

If the lights in your home are dimming or flickering, first check for loose bulbs or connections. If this isn't the cause, you likely have a circuit overload.

For example, if your refrigerator and kitchen lights share the same circuit, the heavy-load appliance is likely drawing more power, causing the lights to dim. The best solution is to move the machine to a separate, dedicated circuit. However, if that isn't an option, have an electrician add a new circuit or update your panel.

2. Frequently Tripped Circuit Breakers

Your circuit breaker trips to stop the circuit from overheating. If it's frequently tripping, the circuit is likely overheating because it's overloaded. However, if your available circuits don't provide enough current, have an electrician add more outlets.

If the circuit breaker still flips, you likely have a short circuit or ground fault sending more current to the outlet than needed, which requires immediate professional attention.

3. Hot or Darkened Outlets

There are several reasons for your outlets to feel warm. Ideally, it's because the fixtures or appliances plugged into them use transformers and have to convert AC to DC power. This is normal, but if you unplug the devices and the outlet still feels hot hours later, it could be a wiring issue.

If you have several items plugged into the same outlet, unplug them and check on the temperature a while later. You might have to relocate a few devices to free up your circuit. If you don't have anywhere else to plug in those appliances, or you're heavily relying on extension cords, have an electrician update your home's electrical layout. 

If you notice these or other troubling electrical issues in your home, contact Bryant Air Conditioning, Heating, Electrical & Plumbing in Lincoln, NE. Since 1952, their licensed electricians have provided commercial and residential services ranging from replacing fixtures to complete rewiring. Call them today at (402) 467-1111 to schedule an inspection of your home's wiring, or visit their website to learn more about their electrical services.