Electricity is a critical part of our everyday lives. So it is very important to ensure the safety of your electrical system as a whole to protect your home and family.
Some electrical issues can wait, like a flickering bulb or lights that won’t dim when they should, but others are serious and need to be dealt with as soon as possible.
If you’re experiencing any of the following issues, you’ll need to call an electrician asap. Never try to fix an electrical issue on your own, this is unsafe and better left to the professionals to resolve safely.
1. Fuses Keep Blowing
If your fuses keep blowing or your circuit breaker keeps tripping, this needs to be looked at as soon as possible. While a circuit tripping is likely due to it being overloaded, if it continues to trip even after items have been removed from the circuit’s reach then it could be a few different issues.
The most serious of these is a ground fault, and if it occurs in a place where there’s lots of moisture, such as a kitchen, bathroom, or outdoors. Turn off the power and call an electrician immediately.
2. Outlet is Hot to Touch
If any of your outlets are hot then you should call an electrician right away.
Find the circuit breaker connected to the outlet you’re concerned about and flip it to the off position. Then disconnect any appliances connected to the outlet. If you had a lot of appliances plugged into the one outlet, then that’s likely the cause of the issue.
However, if there was nothing plugged in you should call a professional look at the issue to give you peace of mind.
3. Electric Shocks
If you get any kind of shock when you touch a light switch or any electrical appliance, this may indicate faulty wiring and should be investigated asap.
In this case, you’re getting a shock because the wire isn’t transporting the current away correctly. This is a problem that can be fixed but needs to be dealt with by a professional quickly before anyone is seriously hurt.
4. Humming or Buzzing Noise
If you hear buzzing or humming in the walls of your house, this can be a wiring problem causing that soft electrical buzzing noise.
While it might not sound like a big deal, faulty wiring is a massive fire risk, as loose wires can spark and ignite materials inside your wall starting a fire.
It could also be the result of overloaded circuits, so try unplugging a few things, especially if they’re located close together, and see if that resolves the issue. This includes power boards with lots of appliances connected to one outlet, or an appliance that draws a lot of power, like a fridge.
5. Light Switch that 'Does Nothing'
If you have a light switch in your house that ‘does nothing,’ It may have some wiring still attached from a previous purpose and should always be inspected to ensure there are no exposed wires or other hazards attached to the other side.
This could be happening because the switch was used to control something that’s no longer in use, or because a previous owner fancied themself a DIY electrician, and didn’t connect up the switch correctly. Make sure that you don’t keep trying the switch, as this may cause a spark which is a fire hazard.
So whether you’ve got a buzzing inside your walls or a circuit that just won’t stop tripping, reach out to our local electrical experts on the Northern Rivers- Coughran Electrical.
We have a 24/7 service for emergency electrical issues, so there’s no need to wait. Some electrical issues can cause damage to your home and yourself, so waiting it out is never the best move.
Just give us a call on (02) 6680 4173, and one of our experienced electricians will be able to assist you with your issue. We service the entire Northern Rivers, including Byron Bay, Ocean Shores, Mullumbimby, Brunswick Heads, and Ballina.
