While we may be past the days when most of us have regularly had to worry about being stalked by a tiger, our eyes and ears are still constantly working to warn us of possible threats and danger — and in certain circumstances can help warn us about potentially dangerous problems with your home’s electricity.
At Arnold Electrical Services, the safety of our customers is of the utmost importance, and we want to make sure that you have as much information as possible to stay aware of potential signs of electrical issues.
There are a few very distinctive smells and sounds that can indicate an underlying electrical issue, and we want you to be equipped with the knowledge to stay safe and help prevent you from being caught off guard.
Electrical Smells You Should Be Aware Of
The smell associated with electrical issues is very distinct and should be addressed as soon as it’s noticed. The smell is usually caused because a problem somewhere in your electrical system, like a faulty breaker, is allowing too much current to flow through a particular segment of wiring. This causes it to heat and burn the plastic and rubber components that many of our homes’ electrical systems are housed in.
While this burning smell isn’t a direct guarantee that there is a fire, it is most certainly a fire hazard and can lead to one if ignored. To help our customers more easily identify the source of the burning smell, here are the main causes of electrical burning smells:
Old Wiring
In ideal conditions, the wiring in your home can last between 50 and 70 years. However, general usage and other factors can require them to be replaced sooner. Additionally, the electrical load that modern homes create has increased more and more over the years. The fact is that older wiring was simply not designed to withstand the usage requirements of most modern homes.
Faulty Extension Cords
Extension cords that are damaged or improperly chained together can create unsafe voltage situations and potentially cause electrical fires.
Fixtures Are Being Fed Too Much Wattage
All lights and appliances have a wattage rating that defines the safe amount of electricity that is required to run the device. If for whatever reason, your home is feeding too much wattage to an appliance or light, it can cause an overload situation where a lightbulb can explode or a device can dangerously overheat.
Bad Space Heater Practices
As winter comes around, space heater usage becomes more and more common in homes. While this heater may be convenient, homeowners need to take extra caution to ensure that they are being used safely and properly.
How To Repair Buzzing Sounds In Your Home
While not as alarming as a burning smell, buzzing can also be a sign that something connected to your home’s electric system or the system itself may not be functioning properly.
A consistent buzzing can be annoying and hard to locate, so here is the easiest way to locate whatever is causing the noise:
- Turn off all circuit breakers connected to your home.
- One-by-one, restore power to each breaker until you notice the buzzing noise come back.
- Once you locate what part of the house the noise is coming from, continue with the same process of elimination for all appliances connected to that circuit breaker.
- Once you’ve located the problematic appliance, you can then leave it unplugged while not in use. If you notice the buzzing coming from a wall or another inaccessible part of your system, contacting a professional is your best bet.
At Arnold Electrical, Your Safety Is Our Success
For years we’ve been providing the highest quality of residential electrical repairs in Chicago and plan to continue this tradition of excellence with every job that we do. We are proud to offer 24-hour emergency service that’s backed by guarantees and carried out by the most qualified professionals in the business.
If you are in the market for any kind of electrical services and want to choose a provider that puts safety and customer service above all else. Don’t hesitate to call us today!
