The best way to avoid electrical issues in a new home is to plan. You can’t predict when or where an electrical problem will occur, but you can manage the process by hiring a licensed electrician to oversee your home’s wiring and install updates before moving in. Fundamental electrical issues can range from poor wiring to faulty outlets and switches. Some may even require emergency repair services. As these problems can be expensive to resolve, here are some helpful tips for managing the process and identifying common electrical issues in a new home.
1. Frequent Electrical Surges
While electrical surges can sometimes cause damage to your home, they are generally not dangerous. In most cases, a surge protector or uninterruptible power supply (UPS) will protect your electronics. Some people might experience frequent electrical surges because their home was improperly wired during construction. It could be anything from faulty wiring in your home’s essential system to improper grounding of it. This can become quite expensive if a professional electrician does not correct the problem.
2. Sags and Dips in Power
These can be encountered in a new home due to how several electrical systems in the home are connected. You may notice periods when your lights flicker or dim. These are called power sags. Sag is the time it takes for electricity to travel to a device and return. The utility companies match supply with demand, so there is generally plenty available, but it has to go through all the devices in a house before returning to the source.
Therefore, turning on more than one high-power item at once, such as an air conditioner and a hairdryer, can cause a dip and flicker through other lights in your home — not just those associated with the air conditioner or hairdryer.
3. Light Switches Not Working Properly
One of the issues in a new home is having light switches that are not working correctly. This can occur when a light switch screws up, especially if it is of poor quality or if the wire connections are corroded and need replacing. As tempting as it may be to rewire the whole house, this is a job best left to professional electricians to avoid accidents.
4. Circuit Breaker Tripping Frequently
This happens when the circuit breaker senses excessive electrical current in the home, often caused by either a high-energy appliance or low-resistance wires. A breaker is a safety device used to shut off power to avoid fire hazards due to increased current flow. If your home has had this issue, it is essential to contact an electrician for assistance with solving the problem before it becomes worse.
5. Circuit Overload
When a home is wired incorrectly, circuit overload is the principal concern. This problem occurs when too many appliances and lighting fixtures are plugged into one circuit. When there is an overload on a circuit, some lights or appliances won’t work. They may even overheat. It can also cause permanent damage to wiring and components in your home.
6. Lights Too Bright or Dim
When you move into a new home, you want to make sure everything is working. Electrical problems often affect one circuit in a series of electrical outlets. This can lead to lights being too bright, too dim, or flickering. To determine where the problem lies, turn off all the lights and unplug all appliances throughout the house.
7. Electrical Shocks
Electrical shocks can be hazardous and should be avoided whenever possible. Most electrical issues in a new home are caused by improper grounding or wiring, leading to electrocution and shock injuries. Often, homeowners will notice electrical hazards in their homes if they have had storms recently. These storms can cause power surges and interference, which can be hazardous if not addressed promptly.
8. High Electrical Bill
A high electrical bill is often the first noticeable sign of a bigger problem in a home. It could indicate excessive heat building up in the attic, or it might mean that the furnace isn’t working as efficiently as it should. Either way, it’s best to look at the issue before your energy bills become unmanageable.
9. Light Bulbs Burning Out Too Often
If you’ve just moved into a new home and noticed your light bulbs burning out much more quickly than usual, you may have one or more issues with your house’s wiring. These common electrical issues in a new home include wire size not meeting code requirements, improper connection of devices like switches and receptacles, loose connections in the wall box, and even the presence of ghost circuits, all of which can cause frequent bulb burnouts in fixtures all over your house.
10. Scarce or Dead Outlets
If you’ve just moved into a new home, you may discover that certain electrical outlets lack power or are entirely dead. Others might seem to work but don’t. It’s frustrating but not uncommon. The wrong type of wires or faulty wiring could cause this issue. The problem could also lie with a faulty circuit breaker or main fuse box that needs service by an electrical technician.
11. Messy or Tangled Wiring
This can cause several problems, including tripping, fire, and even blackouts. When electrical work is being done in your home, check each area to ensure that there are no hanging wires or items that could cause an injury.
12. Burning Smell
A burning smell can indicate a short circuit within the electrical system. This could mean that the plastic sheathing on an electrical wire is melting and causing an open-circuit fault that needs to be repaired.
13. Aluminium Wiring
Aluminum wiring is one of the most commonly used types of electrical wiring in a new home. It is usually found in the homeowner’s electrical circuits, and it may not be evident until the wiring is uncovered during renovation or repair work. This type of wiring is dangerous due to its high resistance, which can cause overheating and overloading. This type wire is also prone to corrosion, so you need to watch out for exposed wires and damage to the electrical box itself.
14. Uncovered Junction Box
An uncovered junction box can be a safety hazard and cause damage to your home’s wiring. A junction box is a metal or plastic box that houses your home’s utility wires. It protects the wiring from being damaged by objects. An exposed junction box can also expose your wires and make them susceptible to wear and tear as well as pests like mice and rats. In addition, there’s a safety concern with open wiring that anyone could touch it and potentially get shocked.
Get Help With Your Electrical Issues
When moving into a new home, the last thing you want to worry about is hidden electrical issues. Instead, you should be able to focus on unpacking and settling into your beautiful new residence. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Electrical problems can sometimes creep up in a recently constructed home due to poor workmanship or lax quality control. Thankfully, there are measures you can take to prevent unnecessary hassles down the road.
At Davis & Green, we’re here to make your life easier. We understand that moving into a new home can be stressful, and we want to help you relax. Let us We can assist you in tackling your home electrical issues head-on. We have a professional team composed of some of the best electricians in Richmond, VA, and the surrounding areas. They’ll be happy to take on your electrical project, regardless of its complexity. Whether you need a simple fixture installed or you’d like us to rewire your entire house, we’ll get it right. Just give us a call at Davis & Green today.
