Common Electrical Issues in Mississauga Homes and How to Address Them

16 July, 2024 Hi-Lite Electric Inc.

When it comes to caring for your home, it’s more than just ensuring the lawn is nicely mowed or that your garden is thriving. One of the most important ways to care for your home is by keeping up with common electrical issues.

If left unattended, these issues can cause serious damage. Knowing the signs and how to address them is crucial for homeowners in any circumstance. This blog discusses some of the most common electrical issues experienced by homeowners, as well as advice on how to deal with them safely.

Exposed Wires

The first electrical issue, arguably the easiest to spot, is exposed wires. Perhaps you were doing an electrical project yourself or hired an amateur rather than a professional electrician in Mississauga. Whatever the case, this is something that needs to be taken care of immediately.

If not, they can be easily tripped over, or pets and children may accidentally grab onto them. To resolve this issue, for hanging wires, staple them to a beam or use some electrical tape. If they are exposed at the ends, splice them and then cover them up.

Lights Flickering

Another common issue that is easy to identify is if you notice your lights flickering every time you turn them on. This can especially be a problem if you see it continuing even after you have replaced the supposed faulty bulbs. It can indicate a defective fixture or a poor wiring connection.

Unlike the previous issue, where you can easily fix exposed wires, this is something that requires a professional. An electrician from Mississauga can discover what is causing the flickering and then safely fix it.

Outlets Warm To The Touch

If you put your hand on your fridge right now, you will most likely notice a bit of heat coming from it. This is completely normal. However, if you put your hand on an outlet and notice it is throwing heat, that is not normal and should be quickly addressed.

The first step is to unplug anything from that outlet. Next, call an electrician in Mississauga to assess the problem. Do not attempt to fix this yourself; doing so could result in serious injury.

Ever-Increasing Electrical Bills

Bills are never fun to receive, but something that’s even less fun is noticing that they are constantly going up. If you notice that almost every month your electrical bill is increasing, but you are using the same amount of energy, this needs to be addressed.

Call a professional electrician, and they will be able to discern exactly what is causing your wallet to feel lighter. It could be from a previous badly done insulation job or even an old appliance that’s taking up more energy than it should.

In some cases, your electrician may be able to suggest small fixes that, in the long run, would actually save you money.

Burning Smells

Smells of food and overpriced candles are the only ones that should fill your home. If you notice a burning smell, you need to contact an electrician in Mississauga immediately.

This means that the wires in your home are heating up so much that they are causing their plastic casing to melt. Identify where it is coming from and have it professionally repaired.

Plugs Not Staying Plugged In

Have you ever gone in to plug in a cord, but no matter how hard you jam it in, it will just not stay? Although this annoyance may seem minor, not repairing it quickly can result in serious damage to your home. Inside every outlet, there are prongs that grip onto what you plug in so that they don’t fall out.

Over time, they can become loose or worn out, which can result in an arc. If left unattended, a fire can start directly behind the drywall, which is a very serious health concern for those in the building.

GFCI Receptacle Issues

GFCI is an acronym for ground fault circuit interrupter. This particular style of outlet is specifically designed to protect individuals from potential electrical failures caused by ground faults. Sometimes, these receptacles need to be reset after you have a case of circuit tripping in your home.

Contact an electrician to reset these for you, and also have them make sure that outlets within four feet of a water source are GFCI-rated. Outlets that are outdoors or in the garage should also be this style of outlet to protect you and your loved ones from any future electrical hazards.

Improperly Installed Gas Lines

Nowadays, most homes and buildings have corrugated stainless steel tubing (CSST) or what is commonly referred to as a “flex line.” However, these gas lines are sometimes not properly grounded.

This could be a case of poorly done work or an electrical surge that had lasting implications. This is not something we recommend you fix yourself. Instead, contact your nearest electrician in Mississauga to resolve it for you.

Piles of Cords and Power Bars

Although this is a great travel hack, you shouldn’t need to use power bars or extension cords in your home. The majority of homes and offices are equipped with multiple outlets in each room, minimizing the need for this. Too many cords lying around can result in people tripping over them.

Your circuit could even trip from multiple power bars overloading it. The best course of action to avoid this is to call an electrician in Mississauga to either upgrade your panels or install more outlets.

Electrician Mississauga: Electrical Safety is Key

In summary, for the most part, common electrical issues are fairly easy to spot. And, if immediate action is taken, they can be remedied quickly. Leaving these problems alone can result in serious injury to those in the building, and can even damage the building itself.

Always be cautious when dealing with electrical damage and be sure to have an electrician from Mississauga on speed dial to avoid any major emergencies.

To learn more about how our professionals can help you with common electrical issues, call Hi-Lite Electric Inc. at 416-800-5536 or contact us here.