Ten Common Electrical Wiring Issues – Part 2
Last time, we discussed the first 5 of 10 common electrical wiring issues: Flickering Lights, Outlet Shortage, Overlamping, Exposed Junction Boxes, and GFCIs Absent.
As mentioned previously, older homes have a greater probability of hazardous electrical problems, and a thorough property inspection should be performed by a licensed electrician.
The following are the second 5 of 10 issues.
Aluminum Wiring
Aluminum wiring was a money-saving substitute for copper in the 1960s and ’70s. Unfortunately, aluminum corrodes after contacting with copper, resulting in loose connections that cause arcing and fires. For light fixtures, an electrician can retrofit a dielectric wire nut onto each copper-aluminum connection. It uses special conductive grease that prevents corrosion.
Backstabbed Wires
Wires pushed into the backs of switches and outlets as opposed to being connected to screw terminals are considered “backstabbed.” They have a greater chance of becoming loose and igniting a fire. The safest way to repair this is hiring an experienced electrician to take out the outlet or switch and connect the wires to their proper terminals.
Panel Overwired
An overwired panel holds more circuits than what its rating can handle. This is a code violation, so it will certainly become an issue if your house is on sale and the inspector finds this problem. Fortunately, an electrician can easily add a subpanel with extra slots.
Ungrounded Outlets
If all your home’s outlets are 2-pronged, it means they’re ungrounded and there’s no safe way to conduct stray current. To make do, people use a cheater plug so they can plug in a device with three prongs. This may be hazardous if the grounding tab is not connected to an electrical ground. It’s recommended to replace an outlet like this with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) breaker outlet, and a licensed electrician can do the job.
Worn Receptacle Contacts
Worn contacts of receptacles will allow electric plugs to come loose and eventually fall out. This is dangerous because loose contacts may arc and ignite. This should be an easy and affordable fix if you hire a professional.
Electrical Peace of Mind
Providing professional electricians since 1988 in Maryland, Cook Electric is the company you can rely on for all your electrical service needs, including:
- Commercial & Residential Electrical Installations
- Marina & Residential Pier Wiring
- Electrical Service & Repair
- Specialty Electrical Services
For knowledgeable, fair, honest, reliable, and conscientious service, call Cook Electric today at 410-266-9040. They will be very glad to help you.