You should have your home’s electrical system inspected periodically, especially if your home is old or if you have experienced any of the following anomalies:

• Frequent breaker trips

• Flickering lights

• Electrical burning smells or smoke

• Arcing noises

These are warning signs that your electrical system may be deficient. A thorough electrical inspection by a qualified electrician will help uncover any hidden dangers, such as the following:

1. Faulty Wiring

Faulty wiring is a general term that includes frayed or improperly sized wiring, the wrong type of wiring, and loose connections. Faulty wiring can cause a fire.

2. Faulty Panel Box

Your panel box distributes electricity to the various circuits. It contains fuses or breakers for safety and protection. Your panel box could be wired incorrectly, or it could be of an outdated or unsafe type.

3. Wrong Size Fuses or Breakers

Fuses and circuit breakers are designed to trip when an overload occurs. If a circuit breaker is too small for the intended application, it will trip excessively. On the other hand, an oversized circuit breaker may not protect against overloads and short circuits.

4. Lack of Ground-Fault Interrupters (GFIs)

Ground-fault interrupters trip when they see an imbalance that causes a current to flow in the neutral or ground. GFIs are typically installed in areas that might get wet, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and garages. If a GFI has been replaced by a regular circuit breaker, it will result in inadequate protection.

5. Improper Grounding

A good grounding system is necessary to keep voltages steady and to protect against surges. Over the years, a ground wire can accidentally get severed, or a connection can become loose.

Bottom line: If you have any doubts about the integrity of your electrical system, you should have it inspected by a qualified professional. You may be surprised to learn that your electrical system has some hidden dangers that you need to know about. To schedule an appointment with Absolute Plumbing, Electrical, Heating & Air, call us at 720-669-4188