Dealing with electrical issues isn’t for the faint of heart. It could be a simple fix — or possibly something serious that you could make worse if you don’t know what you’re doing.
You could become a skilled DIY-er with the right electrician tools (see this comprehensive list by Selfgood) or even branch into electrical work if that’s your passion and you have the experience.
But for the average person trying to combat an electrical dilemma, the debate is always whether to call in a pro or to see if it’s an easy fix.
No one wants to spend hundreds of dollars, then find out they could’ve troubleshot the problem in seconds. Before you make a move, use these quick tips to determine whether it’s a “you” fix or a job for the experts.
1. No Lights
You walk into your home and flip the switch to light up the room, just as you do every day, but this time, nothing happens. Is it a power outage or a problem with that particular light?
First, let’s see if there’s a quick, painless fix. Walk into another room and try that switch. If it turns on, the issue is centralized to the one light switch or room.
Next, check the light bulbs. Newer LED lights tend to last a while, but they still burn out eventually.
Turn off the light switch and, if you want to be extra careful, the breaker to that power outlet. (While there, check the breaker switches for that room to ensure they’re all fully over in the “on” position. This could also be the culprit, and you solved it immediately.) Change the bulb, turn those switches and breakers back on, and see if it works.
If that doesn’t fix it, you likely have a broken switch. If you hold your hand to the flat part of the light switch, does it feel warm? Listen closely. Do you hear a very low buzzing sound or a humming near the switch?
Both of those signs are warnings that something in the switch is broken. It’s not a complicated fix, but if you’re not confident working with electricity, it’s best to call in a pro.
2. Lights Are On, But They’re Blinking
You have power and a working lightbulb, but the light doesn’t stay on consistently. When your lights flicker, pay attention, as that could be a sign that a major electrical problem could turn into a fire hazard if it’s not fixed soon.
As soon as you notice the flickering, check to see if any lightbulbs are loose. This can happen over time when the bulb loses contact with the base. If tightening the bulb doesn’t correct the issue, look at the light switch and feel and listen for those humming and warm senses we mentioned earlier. The switch could be faulty and needs to be replaced.
If you’ve recently moved to LED lights or dimmers, your old switches might be incompatible. You can replace the switch with a modern option, but turn off the breaker for that room before you do anything further.
3. Your Power is Surging
An occasional power surge can happen if outside forces (like lightning, a tree limb, or a car crash) hits a power line. There’s nothing you can do to stop the cause, but you can minimize the effect by keeping your important devices plugged into a surge protector.
A surge happens when the power goes out, an appliance or electronic device stays plugged in, and then the electricity reconnects. As soon as it comes back on, all the electricity surges back into the home through the outlets, and the intensity of that wave of power can break the connected device.
A surge protector or uninterruptible power system (UPS) cushions the intensity of the electricity to prevent damage.
But if you’re getting frequent power surges, you could have an electrical overload in your home. Pay attention to which rooms are affected when the surge happens. Chances are, you have too many devices attached to one circuit. You may need to reposition your plugs to limit the power pulling from that circuit.
If it keeps up after that, it’s time to call in an expert, as you may have some damaged or faulty wiring. This can happen even with brand-new homes if there is a product malfunction. A licensed electrician can check the wiring without damaging your home and verify that everything is working properly and up to code.
Conclusion
All the safety rules we learned young about not playing around with electricity are important. Electricity is a fickle thing, and even experienced professionals can be injured on the job.
That said, there are some things that you can confidently handle yourself before you call for help. Troubleshoot these three common electrical problems, and if you can’t fix them with the remedies provided, it’s worth the expense to bring in a pro.
