Overloading electrical circuits is never a good idea. Doing so increases the chances of a fire or damage to your property’s power system. The problem is that you may not know when you’re creating home electrical hazards unless you know the warning signs.
Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric’s experts provide electrical services in Beggs, OK. Our electricians can let you know about any overloading issues during an inspection so that you don’t find yourself facing an electrical disaster. In the meantime, here are some common causes of circuit overloads that you shouldn’t ignore.
Common Clues That You’re Overloading Your Electrical Circuit in Beggs, OK
If you notice any of the following signs, an electrician will need to check that you aren’t inadvertently overloading electrical circuits.
Dimming and Brightening Lights
When the lights in your home are not maintaining a consistent brightness, you may have overloaded breakers. The wiring serving the lights might not be receiving a consistent injection of power.
Constantly Tripping Circuit Breakers
Circuit breaker tripping is a clear sign of an overload. An electrician will need to put in a breaker with a larger capacity or upgrade the panel. Sometimes, adding a new breaker takes some of the burden off the rest of the panel.
Receiving Shocks from Outlets
Is an outlet or light switch giving you an electric shock when you touch it? If you’re certain the shock isn’t related to static electricity, contact our electricians in Beggs, OK, for help.
Feeling Warmth at the Outlets
When you’re overloading electrical circuits, some outlets or light switches might feel warm to the touch. Too much power moving through the wiring is a serious problem. If that wiring is old or damaged, it could start a fire.
Noticing a Burning Smell or a Buzzing Noise
If you notice a burning odor or buzzing noise from an outlet or circuit panel, an overloaded breaker is often a potential culprit. Our electricians can help you isolate the problematic breaker.
Precautions To Take When Adding New Appliances and HVAC Systems
Need an upgrade to your appliances or HVAC system? Watch out for a breaker overload!
With summer temperatures in this area routinely reaching the 90s while nighttime temperatures drop below freezing in the winter, Beggs, OK, experiences all four seasons to the full. You might need to plug in a window unit, space heater, or dehumidifier. However, if those modern appliances need more power than the older appliances and your current system cannot handle it, you could cause an overload.
Evaluating Your Older Power System’s Capabilities
In Beggs, Oklahoma, the population has remained steady for several decades with limited new residential construction. When our electricians visit residents here for service, we see homes with wiring systems of widely varying ages. If you live in an older home and haven’t done much to the wiring, you might need an upgrade to the circuit board.
Do you notice overloaded breakers every time you run an extra heater or window air conditioner? Installing larger-capacity breakers could solve this problem, and so could upgrading various components. No matter how old your wiring — or ancient fuse box — happens to be, our seasoned electricians can inspect, install, repair, and upgrade it safely.
How To Avoid Having Overloaded Breakers
You can take a few steps to prevent overloading electrical circuits, including:
- Not plugging too many things into one outlet.
- Scheduling electricians to inspect your circuit panel.
- Adding new breakers or increasing the capacity of some breakers.
If you suspect that you’re overloading your property’s circuits, your electrician will first create an accurate map of the circuits. Figuring out which outlets and lights each breaker serves helps to streamline the problem-solving. For example, if you have one breaker with too many items attached to it, the electrician may simply adjust the electric panel.
Seeing Symptoms of Overloaded Circuits? Call Our Electricians in Beggs, OK
Our team provides on-time appointments to all our customers in Beggs and beyond. We’ve been serving central Oklahoma since 2009. Whether you live near Beggs High School, Salt Creek, or New Beggs Lake, we serve your neighborhood.
Understanding electrical safety standards means Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric knows how to prevent circuit overloads and fix system damage. If you’ve been overloading electrical circuits, our professional technicians can fix the problem and provide electrical safety tips to prevent a repeat occurrence. Find out more online or call us to set up an appointment at your property in Beggs, OK!
