Your home’s electrical system can have problems and there are some problems which are more common than others. These common problems could be due to issues with the wiring or external problems that you have no control over. It is important to know what the most common problems are and what can be done about them.

Frequent Electrical Surges

Electrical surges can be caused by a number of things from damage to power lines to lighting strikes to faulty appliances. Surges will generally last a microsecond, but the damage they can do will last a lot longer, particularly if you are having them frequently. If you are experiencing this problem, you should look at electrical devices connected to your home grid or the actual wiring.

Light Switches Not Working Correctly

You might be surprised by the number of people who have light switches that do not work correctly. This could be a light switch for a wall light that does not turn anything on when used or a dimmer that does not adjust the light correctly. The most common reason for this problem is bad workmanship or bad quality products.

Lights That Are Too Bright Or Too Dim

When faced with lights that are too bright or too dim, most people will change the bulb. However, there are times when this does not actually help the situation. If you find that you have this problem, you should check the neutral connection. A bad neutral connection could cause problems and will need to be fixed by a professional.

Dips In Power

Dips in power are different to electrical surges, but they will often have the same negative effect on your home’s electrical system. Most of the time, dips in power can be linked to a faulty device plugged into the electrical system. Poor quality products can also be to blame because they are made with sub-par materials which will draw more power than necessary when they are turned on.

Frequent Tripping Of The Circuit Breaker

The tripping of the circuit breaker is actually a safety measure put in place to protect you from electrical problems. If this happens frequently, it is generally due to the appliances that you are using at the time. High wattage items such as hairdryers and microwaves will often cause this to happen, particularly when there is another high wattage item on the same socket. To overcome this issue, you need to make a note of the items that you use when the trip occurs.

Light Bulbs Burning Out Often

Light bulbs have a limited lifespan, but if you find that your bulbs are burning out quickly, you need to consider what could be causing this. There are a number of reasons why this might be happening from the wattage being too high to the insulation being too close to the light. Bad wiring in your electrical system can also cause this and you will need to have the wiring to the mains and on the circuit checked.

Electrical Shocks

Electrical shocks are not pleasant, but they are generally mild and a good indicator that something is wrong with the electrical system. These shocks will generally occur when you are turning an appliance on or off. The electric shock could be a sign that there is something wrong with the appliance or that there is something wrong with the wiring.

To test if it is the appliance, you could plug a different appliance into the socket and test it. Of course, this does mean that you are opening yourself up to further electrical shocks if it is the wiring. It is recommended that you contact an electrician instead.