When the summer season arrives, there can be a large increase in your electrical demand. Powering your air conditioning system, fans, and other electronics can take a toll on your electrical system. As a homeowner, it’s important to be able to identify wiring issues so you can get them repaired quickly before they create a hazard to your home or family.
Typical Summer Electrical Problems
Overloaded Circuits
One of the most common wiring problems you’ll face during the summer is overloaded circuits. This can happen when you have multiple items running like your AC, fans, and even pool pump. When your circuit is overloaded, you may notice flickering lights, or the functioning of the devices plugged into that circuit will slow down.
If you have an overloaded circuit, try unplugging devices from it. A dedicated circuit for major appliances is not optional: If your home doesn’t yet have one, it needs one.
Additionally, if you’re using multiple power strips or multiplugs because you don’t have a lot of outlets in your home, it may be time to consider getting new outlets installed. This will help you disperse the demands of all your electronics through multiple circuits to prevent dangerous overloading.
Short Circuits
Another issue you may run into with your wiring is that it short circuits. This happens whenever a live wire, also known as a hot wire, comes into contact with ground or neutral wire. This causes a surge of electricity to flow through an unintended path, resulting in the circuit breaker immediately tripping to prevent an unwanted electrical fire.
Apart from the breaker tripping, you may notice a burning smell, a blackened circuit breaker, or visible scorch marks. If you experience a short circuit, it’s best to turn off the power and contact one of our electricians immediately. Short circuits can cause a serious fire risk at any home.
Defective Appliances
One particularly alarming issue you may experience with your electrical system during the summer months is a defective appliance. Defective appliances can cause a short circuit or pull too much power through a particular circuit. You’ll notice that the appliance will smoke, spark, or even smell burnt. In other cases, it can cause the circuit breaker to immediately trip when you’re using the item. It’s best to unplug the appliance and have it repaired or replace it.
Water Intrusion
The outlets outside your home must be properly protected from the elements, like rain. Unfortunately, if the weatherproof seal for your outdoor outlet is worn out or the cover itself is missing, it can allow water to intrude inside the outlet. If you have the standard GFCI outlets mandated for outdoor applications, they’ll constantly trip and can become permanently damaged due to excess moisture.
One of the best ways to prevent water intrusion in outdoor outlets is to have a well-functioning outlet cover. In-use covers seal off the outlet from adverse weather conditions even when you have items plugged into it.
Faulty Circuit Breakers
All circuit breakers have a finite lifespan and will eventually need to be replaced. Most circuit breakers have a usable lifespan of about 25 to 40 years under normal usage conditions. As your circuit breakers age, they can start tripping under normal load conditions.
If you notice that your circuit breaker is tripping without you plugging anything extra into it, it may just be outdated and in need of replacement. This is a typical issue that those living in older homes experience. Some of the best ways to avoid this problem are to get routine electrical inspections and upgrade your panel box when recommended.
Invest in a Whole-Home Surge Protector
Fortunately, the summertime can bring some nasty storms that can affect your local power grid. Power outages can send power surges through your home’s electrical system. This can cause permanent damage to the wiring, outlets, light switches, lighting fixtures, appliances, and any other items plugged into your electrical system.
The best way to prevent permanent damage due to power surges is by investing in a whole-home surge protector. This is installed right at your electrical panel box so that it can reroute excess energy flowing through the line before it can cause any damage to your electrical system or any other components plugged into it.
Seek Prompt Electrical Assistance
When you experience any of the wiring problems that we went over above, seek out professional assistance promptly. Ignoring these wiring issues can lead to both fire and electrocution hazards. We can address them safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively. Hurlburt is your go-to expert for electrical repairs in Burnsville, as we have over 65 years of industry experience and expertise you can trust.
Get Routine Electrical Inspections
One of the best ways to be proactive in preventing summertime electrical issues is to invest in routine electrical inspections. This is where one of our licensed electricians will come out to your home and inspect all the different components of your electrical system.
We’ll alert you of any problems so they can be repaired promptly before further damage develops. If your home is over 40 years old, we recommend inspections every one to three years. If your home is less than 40 years old, we suggest routine inspections every three to five years.
Test GFCI Outlets and Breakers Regularly
GFCI outlets and circuit breakers can be a great way to prevent electrocution. However, you need to regularly test these outlets and circuit breakers to ensure they’re functioning properly.
You can test them every couple of months by hitting the test button located on the surface of the circuit breaker or the outlet. When you hit the test button, the breaker should trip or the outlet will stop working.
You can verify that it killed the power by having a light or other device plugged into the outlet that will automatically shut off when you hit the test button. If the GFCI outlet is working correctly, simply hit the reset button so it can go back to normal functioning.
If it isn’t shutting the outlet or circuit breaker off when you hit the test button, you’ll want to get a professional evaluation promptly to repair the issue.
Be Mindful of Overhead Wiring
Summertime usually means performing maintenance on your home to keep it in good working condition. If you plan on getting up on a ladder or trimming any trees on your property, make sure that you’re always looking for overhead wires. Coming into contact with power lines can be fatal.
Position any ladder at least 10 feet away from any live power line. Opt for using a fiberglass ladder instead of a metal one, as fiberglass doesn’t conduct electricity in case your ladder happens to slide into a live power line.
Reliable Electrical Repair Service
Hurlburt offers reliable electrical repair service in Burnsville, MN. Our licensed electricians can also assist with all your electrical installation, replacement, and inspection needs. Simply call us today to book your next service appointment.
