7 Electrical Hazards In Today’s Modern Homes: When To Call An Emergency Electrician | Myrtle Beach, SC
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You may have purchased a newly built modern home or recently updated home for comfort and your family’s safety. However, no home is ever perfect. Having a complete electrical service inspection is important for every homeowner at least once to avoid needing an emergency electrician. This can help avoid fire and electrical shocks.
Mister Sparky of Myrtle Beach’s emergency electricians are here to assist homeowners in Myrtle Beach, SC as we have years of experience with routine and emergency service visits. Here we share seven electrical hazards in today’s modern homes you may not be aware of.
1. The Wrong Appliances Plugged into a Power Strip
You think of a power strip as convenient. Sometimes outlets are not in ideal locations as you rearrange items around in your home. However, there are large appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, and washing machines that you should never plug into an actual power strip. They have too much power and electricity going through it and a small power strip cannot handle it. Instead, plug these items directly into the wall.
Small appliances such as microwaves, air fryers, blenders, and hair dryers also can be a hazard. Although they are small, they still require the use of a lot of electricity. Power strips are perfect to use for small appliances such as tablets, cell phones, and even computers.
Also, it is important to note to not “daisy chain” power strips or extension cords together. This is when you plug one strip into another strip. This is a hazard to avoid at all costs.
2. Overusing Outlets
Another electrical hazard in modern homes is overusing outlets. Overusing outlets may be done for various reasons including:
- Outlets not holding their plug
- Not having three-pronged outlets
- Not having enough outlets throughout the home
When you overuse an outlet by plugging in too many electrical cords or power strips, this can pull too much power into one outlet and cause an overload. This is a potential scenario of what causes electrical fires. Fires caused in this manner are even more dangerous because they may start behind the wall, making it too late to detect before spreading.
The best thing to do in the instance where you do not have enough outlets throughout your home is to call our Emergency Electrician, Myrtle Beach, SC to install additional outlets.
3. Using Damaged Electrical Cords
Electrical wires or cords that have exposed wiring are another electrical hazard found in modern homes. Due to misuse or even pests chewing on them, they sometimes fray. When this happens, they can corrode and/or overheat. So, it is important to check cords that are out of sight from time to time to ensure they are not damaged.
4. Using Indoor Extension Cords Outdoors
Not necessarily in your home, but using an extension cord meant for indoors on your patio or elsewhere outside is also an electrical habit. If a fire starts, it can easily spread in your home. They do not have the safety features built for outside usage. So, it is important to use an outdoor extension cord appropriately.
5. Using the Wrong Wattage for Light Fixtures
Of course, you are aware that light bulbs generate heat. But were you aware that a bulb could generate too much heat for a particular light fixture? If it does, the socket the bulb fits into could get so hot that it melts and becomes damaged. This not only could damage the light fixture, but also anything the light fixture encounters. This is another electrical fire scenario that can be caught by an emergency electrician.
6. Updated Home with Outdated Wiring
Is your home updated with the latest color schemes and designs? That may have been the key selling point that sold you on the home. However, the previous homeowners may not have bothered updating the home’s wiring. During an inspection, the current wiring could pass. But down the line, things could take an ugly turn.
Aluminum wiring was popular in older homes built in the early 1960s and 1970s. These wiring connections do get loose over time though. So, it could be difficult to detect if it has not given signs yet. Some indications that you have older wiring or faulty wiring include:
- Consistently flickering or dimming lights
- Discolored outlets or light switch plates
- Smelling burning smells
- Ungrounded outlets throughout the home (two-Prong)
- No effect from using a switch on the wall
We can send emergency electricians out to your home to replace the wiring should you suspect any of the above. It is always safer to make the call than deal with the aftermath.
7. Circuit Breaker Has Buzzing and Humming Noises
Do you ever hear slight buzzing or humming sounds in your home? Electrical appliances should run quietly, especially in a modern home. So, when you hear something buzzing about, that is a sure sign of an electrical concern to talk to an emergency electrician about.
If you hear a sound, you should not take it upon yourself to figure it out, attempt to fix it, or even worse just hope it goes away. Many times, this is due to an overloaded or short circuit in your circuit breaker box. The circuit breaker could need an easy fix from our electrical technicians, or we may need to replace the circuit breaker. Either way, it is important that a professional emergency electrician makes the determination of what is wrong with the circuit breaker box and any other outlets and components in your home.
From thunderstorms rolling in knocking out the power in your home to frail wires causing shocks and damage to your appliances, do not wait too late for an emergency to happen. Never feel that you are over worrying about anything electrical in your home. Our certified emergency electricians are here to make your home safer for you and your family.
Should a concern or emergency arise, call Mister Sparky of Myrtle Beach so we can dispatch an Emergency Electrician, to your Myrtle Beach, SC home.