At one point or another, most of us have dealt with an overloaded circuit. It can be easy to know when a circuit is overloaded because it will often trip the breaker. However, there are some times that a circuit can be overloaded and it isn’t so obvious. It is important to be aware of what signs look like when a circuit is overloaded so that you can avoid the dangers that come with overloaded circuits. Burley Electrical Services is here to talk about what makes overloading a circuit so dangerous in your home.
What Happens when a Circuit is Overloaded?
If you aren’t familiar with what an overloaded circuit is, It is the result of too much electrical demand on one circuit. For instance, you wouldn’t want to plug in your microwave and your air fryer to the same plug and use them at the same time. This will create too much electrical demand on that circuit and can put your home in danger. Like mentioned above, when you have overloaded a circuit it is oftentimes obvious. The best way to avoid doing this is to Understand what outlets in your home are connected on different circuits so that you can spread out the electrical demand of your homes.
What Dangers Can Overloading of Electricity Cause?
There are several problems that can arise when a circuit is overloaded. For many people, an overloaded circuit is nothing more than a tripped breaker. There are instances though where an overloaded circuit can lead to much more dangerous outcomes. Here are some of the most common dangers that come when you have overloaded the circuits in your home:
– Electrical fires
– Damaged wiring
– Electrocution
– Damage to devices
How Can I Tell if a Circuit is Overloaded?
The most common sign that is present when a circuit is overloaded is loss of power. If you are worried that you have lost power to the whole house and it isn’t an overloaded circuit, you can easily put this worry to bed by switching on the lights in other rooms of the house. Another easy way to find out if a circuit is overloaded is to check your breaker box. Every homeowner needs to know where this important box is. You can simply go to the breaker box and check the switches to see if one of them has been tripped. If this is the case, that switch will be in the middle rather than all the way in the on position. Some other subtle signs of an overloaded circuit might include:
– Flickering lights
– Buzzing noises near outlets and switches
– Temporary light dimming when a device is being used.
Electrical Wiring Inspections & More in Pompano Beach, Imperial Point, Plantation, Deerfield Beach, Boca Raton, Davie, Lighthouse Point, Parkland & Fort Lauderdale, Florida
If you are concerned about overloaded circuits in your home, you can turn to the electricians at Burley Electrical Services to come take a look. We will give you our electrical system a thorough inspection as we look for any circuits that could be overloaded. Call us today!
