Solving an Electrical Problem

Are you having problems with the electricity going off a lot in one of the rooms in your home? You may be overloading electrical outlets that are unable to handle the power demands of your electronics. In this article, you will find out what happens when electrical outlets are overloaded and why you should call an electrician as soon as possible.

What Happens When Electrical Outlets are Overloaded?

When electrical outlets are overloaded with electronics, you can experience a lot of tripping with the circuit breakers. Tripping occurs when the circuit breakers shut off in one or more rooms to prevent the electrical wiring from overheating and sparking a fire. It is not a good idea to turn the breakers back on if they continually shut off, as it is a safety feature warning you that there is a problem.

It is possible for the outlet covers to become discolored when you continue turning the circuit breakers back on. The discoloration is due to the wires in the outlet becoming too hot, which can turn outlet cover brown or black. The covers may also begin to melt from the excessive heat.

Why Should an Electrician be Called?

You must call for the services of an electrician because he or she can diagnose the problem before things get out of control. A multimeter will be used in the room that is causing trouble to determine how many electrical volts are traveling through the outlets. The test can give the electrician an idea of if the outlets are in need of being rewired or not.

The electrician will also take the outlet covers off to physically inspect the wires inside of the wall. He or she will look for signs that wires are melted or frayed, which may requires an emergency repair to get rid of a fire hazard. Even if there is no physical damage to be seen on the wires, you may need to rewire the outlets if you are living in an old house that has never undergone an electrical upgrade before.

Make sure that you place close attention to how many volts the electrical outlets can handle in your home. If you want to connect several electronics to outlets in a single room, plug them into various outlets to prevent circuit tripping. Hire an electrician like Mid City Electric as soon as you notice that the circuit breakers are turning off a lot so the problem can be fixed.