Your circuit breaker is one of the most important components of your home and is responsible for providing you with electricity to use each day. Unfortunately, it can be easy to rely on it too much by powering too many appliances and devices in the building. If you think your circuit breaker may be overloaded on your property in Rochester, Minnesota, here are four common signs to look for.
1. Issues With Your Lights
You may start to notice that some of the lights in the home begin to flicker and don’t provide consistent illumination. They can even start to dim and cause the interior of your home to appear darker in the evenings. This is because there isn’t enough electricity reaching the lights to power them correctly, which can become inconvenient when you’re preparing food in the kitchen or reading in your bedroom.
This is common in older homes in Rochester, Minnesota because many of the outdated electrical systems haven’t been updated. People today use a lot more electricity than people did 40 or 50 years ago, making it necessary for improvements to be made.
2. Tripped Circuit Breaker
Although it’s common for the circuit breaker to trip occasionally, this shouldn’t occur on a consistent basis. If you’re overloading your circuit breaker, it’ll immediately shut off to prevent a fire from occurring on your property. Appliances that are larger and consume more energy, as well as Christmas lights, can be the tipping point and can cause tripped circuit breakers.
3. Burning Smells
It’s likely not your imagination if you start to smell burning odors in your home when you’re using electricity. This indicates that some of the wires in the building have shorted or may start to melt, increasing the risk of an electrical fire. If your wall outlets are releasing the smell, act fast by turning off the power in the building and immediately calling a professional electrician from a company like Paxton Electric, serving Southeastern Minnesota.
4. Unusual Noises
When your circuit breaker is overloaded, it’s also common to hear unusual noises and sounds that start to develop. The light switches and outlets in different rooms of the home can begin to buzz and make cracking noises. They may even feel warm when you touch them, which indicates it’s time to hire an electrician to perform the necessary repair or replacement to avoid more significant issues that can start to develop.
Give us a call at Paxton Electric in Rochester, Minnesota today to learn more about signs that your circuit breaker is overloaded. We’re here to help you maintain your electrical system with the many services we provide to our customers.
