Most common household electrical repairs

 Blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers

Fuses and circuit breakers are both used to interrupt the flow of electricity when it is overloaded by a power surge. However, they differ in design and behavior when they cut off the power supply.

A blown fuse occurs when the metal in the fuse melts and prevents the flow of electricity in a room or area of the house. Blown fuses are replaced.

Circuit breakers use switching mechanisms that trip from the on position to the off position to prevent electrical surges. In most cases, the circuit breaker is simply reinserted to restore power. However, switches wear out over time or can be damaged by a particularly powerful surge and need to be replaced.

Some unusual event, such as a lightning strike or other unusual surge, can cause a fuse to blow or a circuit breaker to trip. This is not a cause for concern, and replacing the fuse or resetting the circuit breaker brings everything back to normal. However, if a fuse repeatedly blows or a circuit breaker trips regularly, the problem is more serious than just a nuisance.

Burning smells

If there is smoke, there is fire, and if you smell burning, it is possible that a fire is about to break out. If the odor is coming from a heating/air conditioning vent, especially if you are activating the HVAC system at the beginning of a new season, check if dust or dirt has accumulated in the duct. If it is cleaned and the odor disappears, the problem is solved.

Spark

A spark is a short electrical discharge that causes a shock if you touch it. Usually, the spark is blue in color. Every time you plug something in, a spark occurs. This is nothing to worry about.

However, if a spark does not go out after one or two seconds, is yellow or white in color, leaks out of the holes in the outlet, and/or produces a burning smell, we say again: call an electrician right away.

Loose power socket

The power outlet must adhere firmly to the wall surface. Otherwise, the electrical box connected to the socket is too far back, due to improper installation or obsolete construction. The wires of a loose outlet move continuously, causing sparks and overheating that can cause fires.

A sure sign of a loose outlet is when the electrical wires do not stay connected. You can replace the outlet with a new one to see if the problem is resolved. However, usually the problem is not the outlet itself, but something below the electrical system to which it connects. You can guess what we are about to say: call an electrician to investigate further.

Shocks

Sometimes, especially when the air is dry during colder seasons, you can get a shock when unplugging devices. One way to avoid this is to avoid touching the metal poles of the plug; when unplugging, touch the poles with a wall or piece of furniture to discharge the residual electricity that causes the shock.

Call the Emergency Electrician in Bristol. We are 24 hours available.