Faulty wiring and electrical malfunctions cause over 115,000 house fires in the U.S. annually. If you’re wondering, “Is my home’s electrical system safe?” we’ll explain how to spot electrical problems before disaster strikes.
Common Electrical Hazards
The best way to prevent the risk of a house fire is to detect and address hazards early.
One of the easiest ways to spot an electrical hazard is by looking at the wiring throughout your home and checking for signs of any wear and tear, fraying, splits, cracks, or corrosion. In addition to replacing damaged wires, have your electrical circuits repaired to reduce the chance of a fire or electrical shock.
Grounding issues create another common electrical hazard, which can become a bigger problem if not addressed effectively. When an electrical outlet is ungrounded, it means that electricity can travel wherever it finds a conductor. Without the ground wire present, if something goes wrong with the outlet, there’s an increased chance that equipment will short out, cause shock, or start a fire.
Avoid overloading sockets with many extension cords if your home’s wiring system isn’t grounded.
New appliances and renovations increase the risk of accidents, especially in older homes. The wiring in your home’s electrical system should be replaced about every 60 years.
If you need electrical rewiring in the Charlottesville area, we’re happy to help you with your upgrade needs.
Warning Signs of Electrical Problems
If your home’s electrical system is showing signs of distress, it might be time to get an electric panel upgrade to meet your home’s energy needs. Warning signs of electrical issues include:
- Frequent breaker trips
- Flickering or buzzing lights
- Smoke
- Heat
- Burning or discoloration
- Electric shock
As always, it is wise to have a new fire extinguisher in the home, especially if you notice electrical problems. Electrical fires require a specific fire extinguisher to most effectively put out the fire. If you experience any of these signs, unplug everything from your outlets, and call a licensed professional to advise you on the best solutions going forward.
Electrical Safety Tips
There are a few tips you can use to help keep your home safe from electrical issues. The most important safety rule to remember is that if you suspect an electrical problem, disconnect the power by turning off the circuit breaker in the electrical panel and unplugging equipment from the outlet. As a general rule, to help lower your energy bill, unplug appliances and devices when they’re not being used.
Another way to ensure your home’s electrical system is safe is by recognizing environmental hazards within dated equipment. When inspecting your home for electrical issues, it’s important to be aware of hazardous materials in or around your wiring system. For example, asbestos was often used in wiring insulation to help with insulation and temperature resistance. Over time, this insulation degrades and releases tiny fibers into the air. If you need to remove or change old insulated wires, rule out the chance that asbestos is present, as exposure can lead to different cancers and other respiratory illnesses.
When dealing with electricity, remember to stay away from water. Keep floors and surfaces dry and away from electrical units, especially in the bathroom and around a spa or pool. To reduce the risk of shock, never allow electrical cords or other forms of electricity near water or other liquids. For more tips, check out the home electrical safety checklist to help keep your family safe room-by-room.
Don’t take a chance on your family’s safety or yours! Let our experienced and licensed electricians install or repair your home’s electrical system needs. Charlottesville area residents can call Fitch Services at (434) 296-9980 for emergencies or use our contact form to help you with all of your electrical needs.
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Real Reviews from Your Charlottesville Neighbors
See All ReviewsJulie D. (Charlottesville, VA)I can’t say enough good things!! We had an emergency, no AC during the 113+ heat wave on a Friday holiday afternoon (worst timing!!!). I called multiple companies and only Fitch called me back.
Larry was fantastic!! He kept me informed as to when he anticipated getting to us, and called when on his way, and showed up when he said he would.
He was, again, fantastic! Explained the issue and promptly fixed it. Our house was literally 98 degrees. Everything is running smoothly!
And, for an emergency call late on a Friday afternoon, the cost was incredibly reasonable.
I highly HIGHLY recommend their services. We now have them on speed dial and will absolutely be using them again for our needs, even for other services they offer we have yet to use.
Again, thank you Larry & Fitch Services from us and our pups - for being there when we needed you most and delivering exceptional customer service. 5 stars for sure!
Barbara M. (Charlottesville, VA)I am proud to say I have been a client of Fitch Services since they began. My family has always received courteous and timely service for plumbing, heating and air conditioning, and electrical issues. They have installed and maintain a whole house generator. That was a fantastic decision. I use their annual maintenance plans for all of my systems. I personally recommend Fitch Services.
John K. (Charlottesville, VA)I knew of Fitch Services and their technicians via my place of employment. The technician's honest and forthright approach to their work was very much appreciated... They were initially contacted to come to our residence to address a clogged kitchen sink drain line. It was suggested to us we replace the drain line instead of snaking it. When the old drain line was cut out and shown to me, it was amazing anything had gotten through that line! Glad we chose to replace it... We also inquired about replacing/updating all the galvanized supply lines in our home. The scope of the work needed and how it would be done was discussed to make sure we understood... We appreciated the honest assessment of how the project might or would go. While the technicians were on our project, they kept us updated with daily conversations towards the end of their working day. The finished project has been great! We were excited to finally have full flow of the hot water! Fitch is now our 'go to' plumber.
Tom P. (Charlottesville, VA)I've used Fitch for a few years now for both electrical and plumbing work. They are professional and do a great job on things both big and small. Twice we have had pretty huge jobs and they have come in under budget. Plus, the service technicians are friendly and work hard and the office staff communicates very well. Definitely recommend!
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