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Signs That It’s Time for an Electrical Upgrade

electrical blueprints with magnifying glass and highlighter sitting on themIt’s not uncommon to have a circuit breaker trip from time to time throughout the years you live in your home. You might see lights flicker here and there, too. While on their own these two factors may seem inconsequential, if they’re coupled with an old home and an even older electrical system, then there might be cause for concern. Electrical problems can be serious, with electrical fires accounting for hundreds of injuries a year—many of them fatalities.

Hiring a professional electrician in Coeur d’Alene, ID to update your home’s electrical system could reduce your risk of electrical fires or shock. But, how do you know if your home is actually at risk? The truth of the matter is that you can’t always tell. Fortunately, we can. Keep reading for some basic signs you can watch out for.

Signs You Need to Call an Electrician

Here are some basic signs you can watch out for that indicate you shouldn’t wait to call an electrician. These problems put your home at risk, and therefore put you and your family at risk. Sometimes there may be a simple fix, but other times you might need a complete overhaul of your electrical system.

  • You’re constantly resetting breakers or replacing fuses.
  • You have lights that are frequently flickering or dimming. Even if it only happens while you’re using another appliance, this means that your circuits are likely overloaded when they shouldn’t be.
  • You have light switches getting hot and/or light bulbs burning out faster than they should.
  • You hear buzzing coming from light fixtures, walls, or the circuit breaker panel.
  • You smell burning from your outlets or anywhere else in your home.
  • You see any sign of sparks when you plug something in, or receive an electric shock.

Should You Schedule an Electrical Inspection?

Let’s say you aren’t experiencing the above problems, but that you have an older home and are unsure if your wiring is up to code or safe. This is reason enough to schedule an electrical inspection, but if you are still unsure, ask yourself if any of the following factors are true for you. If they are, you’d do well to schedule this service!

  • Your home is several decades old, and you’ve just moved in but unsure of the last electrical inspection.
  • You use a lot of power strips or extension cords to meet your power demands.
  • You’ve installed new fixtures that require a lot of voltage.
  • You still have two-pronged outlets throughout your home, and especially in rooms that use water—such as bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms.

Electrical Updates You May Need

A common assumption amongst homeowners is that their home simply needs a new circuit breaker. Sometimes, this is the case! However, other times an electrical system may need a more complicated upgrade than just a circuit breaker box alone. This is because your home might not be drawing in enough amps to accommodate a larger circuit breaker box. Fortunately, this is something we are fully capable of helping you with!

ACI Northwest is here to help with your home comfort needs or concerns.

Please do not hesitate to contact us for helpful advice.

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