Identification and Prevention of Electrical Short Circuits

With the great progress in technology and a wide range of other innovative inventions, we are more reliant on electricity today than ever before. Once considered a luxury, electricity is now considered a basic necessity simply because nearly everything today works on electric power. Though electricity has its value and importance, it also is accountable for many house fires and even deaths due to electrical short circuits. Here are some quick tips for identifying short circuits in your home.

What Are Short Circuits?

A short circuit occurs in your home when a hot wire comes in contact with any of the other wires located within your home’s fuse box. When this happens, an extra current is created that flows through the circuit and causes a fuse to blow. Further sources of short circuits are existing problems in cords or switches, faulty wiring in your home or an electrical overload.

Steps to Take to Identify Short Circuits

For starters, when attempting to identify a short circuit, always make certain to turn off any switches and lights and unplug any appliances. Next, you want to locate the tripped circuit breaker and reset it. If you find that a fuse has been directly affected, make certain to replace the fuse.

If after resetting, the breaker it trips again, then chances are the short circuit could be within a switch or a receptacle. To determine which switch is causing the breaker to trip, you will need to turn on the switches in the house one by one. When the breaker trips as a result of a specific switch being turned on, you can safely assume which switch has a short circuit that needs attention.

Next, if you determine that a switch is not the problem because you have tried them all and the breaker has not tripped, more than likely the problem lies within an electrical appliance. Follow the same procedure as you did with the switches, checking each electrical appliance one at a time. When you find that the breaker trips, you will have identified the appliance that is causing the short circuit.

How to Avoid Short Circuits

• Avoid using multiple sockets at the same time and avoid overloading any one plug. If it gets overloaded, it can easily result in a fire.
• Get in the habit of checking your circuit protection.Whether you have been living in your home for a period of time or are moving into a new home, it is always a good idea to check the fuse or breaker box to ensure all looks in order. It may be wise to engage the services of a professional electrician to confirm for you that you have no issues with your home’s fuse or breaker box and that it is up to date and meets proper industry standards.
• Pay close attention to the condition of electrical wires. Wires can wear out or the rubber coating that protects the wire can actually break over time, causing the wires to be exposed. This can be quite dangerous and can result in home fires. Be sure to check electrical wiring routinely to ensure they are in proper working condition with no damage or breakage.
• When it comes to your appliances, always consult the owner’s manuals. It is important when purchasing, installing and using an electrical appliance that you consult with the manual and familiarize yourself with the appropriate load capacity of the appliance. This is important to understand since overloading your appliance can result in an electrical short circuit.

Electricity is vital to everybody and every home. However, if there appears to be a problem with your home’s electrical system, then do not attempt to resolve the issue yourself. Reach out to the highly skilled and certified electricians at Gervais Electric, Inc. to identify your problem and provide an effective solution. Having earned ourselves a recognizable position as a leader in the marketplace, our team stands ready to serve you with your every electrical need and provide premier services that will simply not be matched by any of our competitors.

Put your trust into the hands of some of the absolute best in the industry. Schedule an in-home inspection of your electrical system today!