Troubleshooting Common Home Electrical Problems

Troubleshooting Common Home Electrical Problems, Frederick, MD Electrical problems can cause all sorts of disruptions in your life, and some can even pose a serious safety risk if not quickly addressed. Although most electrical work is best left to a residential electrical contractor serving Frederick, you may be able to fix some minor electrical problems on your own. Here are a few safe and easy troubleshooting tips for common home electrical problems. If these quick fixes don’t work, contact a home electrical repair company and let a professional electrician get to the root of the problem.

Problem: Light Bulbs Frequently Burn Out

If you find yourself constantly changing light bulbs, the problem may be the type of bulbs you’re using. Check your light fixtures and make sure you’re using bulbs with the correct wattage. Using bulbs with a higher wattage than your light fixture can handle can result in frequent bulb burnouts. It could also be a problem with the electrical connection itself, which is a problem best left to an electrician.

Problem: Appliances Shut Off Unexpectedly

When high-wattage appliances or electronics shut off unexpectedly, check your service panel to see if a circuit breaker has been tripped. Although resetting the circuit breaker may solve the problem this time, the problem itself is a sign of a larger issue. If you want to keep your appliances and electronics running without interruption, hire an electrician to inspect your home’s electrical system and possibly install a separate circuit for high-wattage items.

Problem: Electrical Outlet Doesn’t Work

If an electrical outlet is not supplying power to the item(s) plugged into it, first determine whether the outlet is a GFCI receptacle. If it is, press the “reset” button to restore power. If this doesn’t work, or if the outlet is not a GFCI receptacle, check the circuit breaker. Reset tripped breakers and check the outlet for power. If the outlet is still not functioning, contact a residential electrical company to perform a more through electrical inspection.