Your electrical system is one of the most essential features of your house. At the same time, it’s also potentially the most dangerous due to the risk of electrical fires, electrocution, damaged appliances and electronics, etc. Performing routine checks is the best way to avoid these hazards and ensure your electrical system is safe. That way, you can identify any potential issues and determine if you need to hire a professional electrician. In this guide, we’ll go through the steps for performing a complete electrical system check and what things you need to watch out for.
Inspect and Test All Outlets and Switches
When checking your electrical system, the first place to start is with all of your outlets and light switches. That primarily means checking each one to see if it still works and making sure there aren’t any signs of smoking or scorch marks. While an outlet or switch can randomly give out and no longer work, this commonly happens due to a wiring issue.
What To Look For
A loose or damaged wire can be extremely dangerous since it can lead to a short circuit that causes a massive spike in power. While this spike should cause the circuit breaker to trip immediately, it can cause an electrical fire if the breaker is stuck or worn out and doesn’t trip. A loose or damaged wire can also sometimes produce sparks that lead to the outlet, switch, or wiring melting and possibly catching on fire.
These potential issues are why you should never plug anything into an outlet if it doesn’t work. If you have a light switch that doesn’t work, the first thing to do is replace the light bulb. If it still doesn’t turn on, you should make sure to leave it off. You should also make sure not to use an outlet or a light switch if it feels hot.
Yellow or brown stains on the faceplate of an outlet or switch indicate it started to melt at some point due to overheating or sparking. The same is true if you notice black scorch marks around the slots on an outlet. In either case, it means you’re dealing with a fire hazard and need an electrician to replace the outlet or switch before it is safe to use again.
GFCI
The other thing you need to make sure to do is test all of your GFCI outlets, and this is something that really should be done monthly. GFCIs help prevent shocks and electrocution, both of which can occur due to a hazardous electrical issue known as a ground fault. This is when electricity “leaks” out of an outlet and into a nearby object, resulting in the object being electrified and shocking or electrocuting anyone who touches it. The green light on a GFCI outlet should turn off or change to red when you press the Test button. If the light goes out, the outlet no longer has power, and the GFCI still works. You can then turn the power to the outlet back on by pressing the Reset button. If nothing happens when you test a GFCI outlet, you shouldn’t use it until you get it replaced.
Make Sure None of Your Lights Are Flickering
When testing your light switches, you also want to monitor the lights and make sure they don’t flicker. A flickering light can just be a sign that the bulb is loose or that the socket is slightly damaged. It may also signal a serious electrical problem that could cause the outlet’s wiring to catch fire. As such, you should turn any flickering lights off and avoid using them until you can get them inspected. An even more significant concern is if you have lights that flicker in different parts of your house. In this case, you should immediately call for an inspection, as this usually means there’s an issue with your electrical panel.
Check Your Electrical Panel for Any Issues
The next step is to check for any apparent issues with your main electrical panel and any sub-panels you may have. That means things like rust and corrosion, loud humming or buzzing noises, or if the panel feels hot. Any of these issues indicate an electrical hazard and should be checked out immediately by a licensed electrician. It’s also a good idea to turn the main breaker off and then on again and then do the same with each circuit breaker. If you have a stuck breaker that you can’t shut off, it also should be replaced as soon as possible to prevent a potential fire or damage to your electrical system.
Ensure You Know Which Circuit Each Breaker Controls
When checking your electrical panel, you also want to make sure that each breaker is clearly labeled with what part of the house it controls or which appliance it controls. This is so you can take immediate action and shut the correct breaker off in case of an issue, such as an outlet that starts smoking. If such a situation surfaces and you don’t know which breaker to shut off, your only option to ensure a fire doesn’t start is to turn off the power to your entire house by shutting off the main breaker.
The single-pole 120-volt breakers in an electrical panel are what control the circuits that supply power to the outlets and lights. If any of these breakers aren’t labeled, you can easily tell which circuit they correspond to. All you need to do is turn on the lights in every room and then see which of the lights go out when you switch the breaker off. However, there will usually be one or possibly two breakers that only control the power to the outlets along your kitchen counters. If these outlets are GFCIs, you’ll know you have the correct breaker when the green light on the outlets goes out. If they aren’t GFCIs, you’ll need to plug something like your phone charger into the outlet to see if the power goes out when you switch the breaker off.
When in Doubt, Call for a Professional Inspection
If you’re experiencing any problems with your electrical system or notice any potential issues when checking it, Top Flight Electric is here to help. As one of the Winter Haven, FL, area’s most trusted electrical companies, you can rely on us for all of your needs. We can do everything from electrical panel upgrades and outlet replacement to rewiring and EV charging installation. We have a team of licensed electricians dedicated to providing the safest, most reliable services. You can also trust you’re getting a fair deal thanks to our honest, upfront pricing.
We use software to calculate the price of whatever work you need to do, and the final price will always be the same, no matter how long the job takes. We’re also happy to answer any questions and will do whatever is necessary to ensure you’re 100% satisfied. Contact us today to get the service you need to ensure your electrical system is safe.
