Many homeowners in Houston, TX, have had unfortunate experiences with their electrical systems. When your home’s electricity goes haywire, it’s concerning.
You’ve probably asked yourself before whether the blinking lights in your dining room are normal or if your outlets should spark like July 4 firecrackers. It can be hard to know when you should call out an emergency electrician for electrical service.
At the same time, it’s vital to learn when you should because your home and family’s lives are at stake.
At Illuminations Lighting Design, our residential electrical experts are here to help. We want to help you understand what’s normal and what’s not in the way your electricity behaves.
Above all, we want you to know when time is of the essence, and when electrical misfunctions signal an emergency.
What’s Normal Electrical Behavior?
Let’s first ease some of your fears. Some common electrical misfires are actually more “normal” than you might think. At the same time, there are some telltale signs that your electrical equipment is outdated or malfunctioning.
Tripping Breakers
Contrary to popular belief, tripping breakers don’t always spell trouble. Breaker trips are your electrical system’s way of protecting your home from an electrical overload. It might just mean that you plugged too many appliances into one circuit, particularly if it rarely happens. But, if your home’s breakers start tripping often, it’s time to call out an electrician.
Sparkling Outlets
Generally, sparking outlets aren’t good. If your outlet sparks when you first plug something in, it could mean that you simply need a new outlet. Now, if your outlet sparks without you doing anything to it or sparks beyond a momentary length of time, it’s an emergency. It’s time to call an emergency electrician out pronto!
Flickering Lights
Lights that flicker are actually pretty common in many homes. It most often occurs when your central air conditioner comes on, or you use a power tool. Any sudden charge moving through the electrical system in your home can cause flickering lights. Thunderstorms can also cause minor flickering in your lights.
Nonetheless, you should call an electrical contractor to evaluate whether or not the issue is something to be concerned with. Flickering lights can sometimes signal a problem with your electrical panel or wiring. While it may not be an emergency, it is something that should be evaluated.
When’s it Time to Call an Emergency Electrician?
Let’s preface the following by saying to go with your gut anytime you feel your home is at risk. Safety and security are essential. Otherwise, if any of these signs occur in your Houston home, call for emergency electrical service:
- Signs that your home has an electrical fire or is in danger of one
- Outlets that are black, melting, or burning
- Unprovoked sparking of outlets or prolonged sparking of outlets
- Prolonged or recurring flickering lights, particularly when there is also a buzzing sound
- Frequent tripping of your home’s breakers
- A failure of breakers to restore electrical function when re-engaged
- Burned out wire odors in your home
- Mild to moderate electrical shocks when you touch the outlets or appliances of your home
Houston’s Premier Emergency Electrical Service Company
If you think you have an electrical emergency in your Houston, TX home, or you just want an electrical evaluation, contact us at Illuminations Lighting Design. You can easily reach us at 713-863-1133. We’re The Space City’s premier electrical service company.
Don’t play around with fire. It takes an experienced and licensed electrician to safely determine the integrity of your home’s wiring and electrical capacity.
Our electricians are top-rated and stellar at what they do. Electricity is our business. We enjoy serving our clients all over the Greater Houston region. We would love to add you to our growing list of satisfied clients.
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