Electrical emergencies are a serious concern for homeowners, and timely intervention can mitigate the risk of severe consequences. Whether you are experiencing a power outage that affects your entire neighborhood or frequent circuit breakers, knowing when to seek emergency electrician services is critical.
Flickering lights, buzzing outlets or a persistently tripping breaker are red flags indicative of underlying electrical faults and fire hazards. Licensed emergency Electrician Jacksonville NC provides prompt service to keep you and your family safe and restore power quickly.
Power Outage
We depend on electricity for many of our daily activities including cooking, heating and cooling, and communication. It’s also important for some medical equipment like CPAP machines and electric wheelchairs. Power outages can be disruptive and even dangerous for these individuals. If you use medical devices that rely on electricity, it’s best to prepare ahead of time for these situations by having a backup plan.
A power outage is usually caused by a problem with the local electrical grid. High voltage electricity from a power station is sent over long transmission lines to your area where it’s transformed into lower current for your home by substations. These facilities can be damaged in a number of ways like a car accident taking out a pole, heavy snow causing trees to fall on the line, or extreme weather like hurricanes and tornadoes.
Once an outage occurs, service technicians from your power company will be dispatched to find and fix the issue. Sometimes they may need to replace a pole or repair a substation. Other times they may need to remove debris or reroute power through another route. In extreme cases, they might need to bring in a generator to help restore power for your home.
Some outages aren’t as dramatic and can be resolved quickly. However, in some areas the outage can last for days or weeks causing disruption to businesses and homes. This is especially true of places that experience severe climate conditions or have an aging infrastructure.
When a power outage happens, make sure to stay away from the area. High voltage electricity can jump gaps and cause injury or death if you get too close. You should also unplug any electronics so that they don’t receive a surge when the power returns. It’s a good idea to check on family, friends and neighbors especially those who live alone or with medical conditions.
If you use a gas stove or oven, it’s important to make sure the doors are closed and that there’s no carbon monoxide build-up. If you need to use a generator, be sure to only operate it outdoors and away from windows. You should also keep a supply of fresh food in your refrigerator and freezer in case the power is out for a prolonged period of time.
Flickering Lights
Flickering lights are a common symptom of an electrical issue and can be caused by a variety of issues. One of the most common reasons for flickering lights is an overloaded circuit. This occurs when too many appliances or light fixtures are running on the same circuit and causes temporary dips in power, which cause the lights to flicker.
Another reason for flickering lights is loose wiring. This is more serious than simply being an annoyance and could indicate a potential fire hazard. When electricity jumps across a loose connection, it can create an intermittent spark, which may eventually lead to an electrical fire.
If you notice your lights flickering, it’s important to call our emergency electricians right away. Our experienced electricians will be able to diagnose the problem and execute any necessary emergency electrical services, whether it’s as simple as tightening a loose bulb or as complicated as executing a full home rewiring. Our experts have the tools, training and experience to handle any type of residential electrical repairs.
Circuit Breaker Trips
The circuit breaker is designed to shut off power when it sees a surge of electrical current that exceeds its capacity. This is a safety mechanism to protect your home from serious electrical damage, including fires and explosions. It’s not uncommon to experience a breaker trip from time to time, especially after heavy storms when lightning induces electric surges in power lines and wiring. However, if you find that the breaker keeps tripping, it’s important to take it seriously. It’s not a simple fix, and persistent tripping could be a sign of more serious issues.
The most common reason your breaker trips is because it’s overloaded. This occurs when you plug in too many devices to a single circuit, causing them to draw more electricity than the system can handle. Fortunately, this problem is easily fixed by switching to a different circuit or unplugging some appliances to reduce the load on the faulty one.
You can also try to narrow down the culprit by unplugging and re-plugging each appliance, starting with the most likely one. It’s helpful to keep a notebook handy, so you can record when and where the breaker trips, as well as which devices were plugged in at the time. If the breaker trips again after you’ve reduced the load, it’s probably due to a short circuit, which is a more serious issue that requires professional attention.
In the meantime, if you notice a burning smell or the breaker box or outlets feel warm to the touch, shut off the power and call Purefoy Electric right away. These are signs of a dangerous situation, and you should never attempt to perform any DIY electrical work without a licensed electrician.
Water Damage
Water damage is a serious issue that can affect different areas of your home, from structural damage to the introduction of pests. It’s also a major electrical hazard, as it creates the risk of damage to wiring. If this happens, it could cause a fire or even lead to electrocution. Luckily, modern homes are more equipped with safety features like circuit breakers and GFCIs to prevent these issues from occurring. Older homes may still use fuses, which will blow when there’s an overload.