From a pesky flickering light, to a more concerning burning smell, there are a number of signs to look out for to ensure you are not a victim of bad wiring. After all, bad wiring, if left unchecked, can lead to a number of severe consequences, including the possibility of a house fire, ( more likely in older homes).
But, it needn’t get that far, just keeping an eye on your home and looking out for five signs of bad wiring can lead to catching the issue with plenty of time to rectify it. Here are our five signs to look out for:-
- Frequently tripping circuit breakers – Whilst it’s not unusual for your circuit to trip now and then, it can be concerning if this becomes more of a frequent issue and can be one of the most obvious warning signs to a short somewhere in your wiring.
- Flickering lights – Although flickering lights can be down to an issue with the lights itself, it is always one to get checked by one of our electricians as flickering lights can be a key tell-tale sign to an overloaded circuit, particularly if it’s happening to more than one light source.
- Hot electrical outlets – If you can feel any heat coming off your electrical outlets that is a warning sign. Whilst not always meaning bad wiring it’s always recommended to get checked out – better to be safe.
- Frayed or chewed wiring – Just like us, as wires get older they begin to deteriorate, however, if left unchecked, they can become a major fire hazard and cause further problems with the rest of the wiring in your home.
- Burning or smoking type smells – If you detect any form of burning odour from your appliances or plug sockets it’s best to minimise all risk by turning them off immediately and contacting Exeter Property Maintenance to come and check the item(s). As most electrical wiring features plastic installation, the burning smell can be signaling there can be an issue inside of the walls causing this to burn and create the smell.
If you notice any of these issues, whether on their own or together, we would always recommend getting a qualified electrician to attend and carry out an electrical installation condition report (EICR). Not only does this guarantee your safety, but it also guarantees the issue is identified and solved in the quickest and most effective manner.
