There are many reasons to call an electrician in Victoria BC, but unfortunately many homeowners are unaware of the situations that they should be calling their trusted electrician. There is a good chance that unless your home was recently built, the electrical system will need some kind of upgrade or repair. New electrical codes are often being released to help keep homes safe, so it is important to keep your home up to date with changes. Older homes especially may show signs that upgrades are due. Below are some commonly-overlooked things to look out for which will let you know it’s time to call an electrician:
Breakers and fuses are tripping and blowing often
If your electrical breakers are tripping often, or fuses are constantly blowing, this means your electrical circuit is pulling more electricity that it can safely provide for your home. This could also indicate a dangerous fault in one of your home’s circuits.
Flickering or waning lights
Do your lights momentarily dim when the fridge, hair dryer, or air conditioner turns on? Motor driven appliances draw lots of current and should be wired on their own circuits. If they are not, you may experience a blown fuse or circuit breaker. If smaller appliances are causing this issue, you can add a 20-amp line just for these appliances.
Too many extension cords
When your living room is covered in extension cords running under carpets and furniture, this is a sign that your home needs more outlets. This is not just about convenience, it is also about safety as extension cords can cause fire and tripping hazards near furniture and rugs.
Too many things plugged into the same outlet
If your outlets are covered in plug strips and multi receptacle addons, your electrical system is probably working over capacity. It’s time to install more circuits to restore balance and safety in your home.
Wire insulation is not up to par
If your wires are covered in cloth instead of plastic, it’s time to upgrade your electrical system ASAP. Older homes were built for very different electricity needs, and the methods used in the past are not meant to safely hold up to today’s electrical needs.
Outlets won’t accept three-prong plugs
Most older homes have two-prong outlets that do not accept three-prong grounded plugs. While this might seem mildly annoying, it actually means that your home’s electrical wiring system might not be fully grounded or safe.
Outlets and switches are warm to the touch
When you touch outlets, switches, or other electrical system surfaces, are they warm? If you notice this or a blackening near a switchplate or wire end, you could have a serious electrical problem. This either indicates too much demand on the circuit or that aluminum wiring has been used in your home. This should be checked regularly!
There are no GCFIs
Nowadays, wet locations such as kitchens, bathrooms, and utility rooms have strict requirements to have Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) in all outlets. If your home is lacking these, all it takes is an easy retrofit installation to bring your home up to code with proper GFCI outlets.
Rust is developing
If you notice rust or moisture on your home’s main service panel, this is a very good sign that the system is worn out. A damaged panel cannot protect the main wiring connections within it, and this could also indicate that there are similar issues elsewhere in your electrical system.
Your home is over 25 years old
If your home is over 25 years old and you have never upgraded your electrical system, there is a good chance that you are living with an inadequate or dangerous system. For your safety, have an electrician inspect your home even if you have not noticed any of the above signs.
If your Victoria BC home needs an electrical upgrade, call our team of trusted electricians today.
