Power issues can be just as inconvenient as they are common. With the Covid pandemic restricting our freedom to the confines of our homes, working from home is no longer a luxury, but rather a necessity. In fact, remote working or smart working, as it is called nowadays, has become a popular and acceptable format of employment. But if you regularly experience power issues at home then you should hire a professional electrician like lyntonelectrical.com.au as working from home can become quite challenging. While frequent power issues at home can be quite inconvenient in general, they become even more so, thanks to the times we live in.
Whether you are attending your school or university lectures online or working from home, frequent power issues can disrupt your workflow and significantly affect your output. Electricity issues can leave you without a stable wifi connection or even make it impossible to charge your devices. Some of these issues could also burn your devices, leading to expensive replacements or repairs. Furthermore, the situation is not just about the inconvenience, but also about safety. Faulty wiring could start a fire or electrocute someone. So if you are experiencing regular inconsistencies with your electricity at home, you should take all the necessary precautions to ensure safety and that the problem does not occur again.
Here are a few things you should do if you are regularly experiencing power issues at home.
Fluctuation in Power Supply
Fluctuation in your electrical supply can generally be attributed to devices in the power grid that have problems or a power line made of subpar and substandard materials. Certain devices may be consuming a lot of energy, leading to a dip in power when turned on. Identifying these devices or the combination of devices that, when run together, cause fluctuation in the power supply can help you avoid this altogether.
High Bills
Sometimes power bills can be quite high. There could be various reasons contributing to the spike in your bills at home. The most straightforward reason could be using the services of an expensive power supplier, in which case, changing the power supply vendor is the only solution. Apart from that, the high bills could be due to certain devices which may have a low energy star rating, or due to a damaged roof which can put an excessive load on your cooling and heating system. High electricity bills could also be due to leaks in your water heating system or faulty wiring and damaged circuits. Fixing these problems can help bring the energy bills back to normal.
Frequent Tripping of Circuit Breakers
Another problem that is often faced by a lot of people is the frequent tripping of circuit breakers. This usually occurs during the usage of high wattage items like a microwave, electric oven, washing machine, water heater, or even a hairdryer. The purpose of the circuit breaker is to prevent the overloading of the electrical system of your home. This problem usually occurs while utilizing multiple devices at the same time. For example, using the microwave and the oven together. The best way around this problem is to identify the devices that cause the circuit breaker to trip and use them at a lower setting or avoid using them together.
Electrical Surges
Electrical surges can arise due to situations outside your control such as lightning strikes, damaged power lines, and even bad wiring. Such electrical surges last only a fraction of a second but can cause a significant amount of damage to your appliances like your television, washing machines, laptops, and even phones. A simple way around this problem is to use surge protectors. These are equipped with fuses that break the connection when the current exceeds a certain safe threshold and can help protect your devices.
Faulty Switches
As your electric points, wiring, and terminals get old, they wear out and can malfunction. Faulty switches can be a result of overuse, poor workmanship, or poor quality components. This is also a problem that is faced by a lot of people when they move into a new apartment. The electricians at Mandin Electrical recommend getting your wiring, circuitry, and switchboards checked and replaced if necessary. Faulty switches can not just be frustrating to use, but could also be a source for leakage of currents, and pose the risk of an electric shock.
Power Outages
Most power outages don’t last long. In fact, power outages do not occur very frequently. But when they do occur, you should be prepared for them. Power outages can occur due to heavy rains, bad weather, or high winds when power lines get damaged. A power outage can leave you without light, heating, or cooling. Sometimes, even telephone lines can get affected. As a result, they can affect your work and other daily activities. In order to comfortably get through a power outage, you must be well prepared to face one. You should have an emergency plan in place that you and your family members are familiar with. You should also have an emergency kit containing all the resources that you and your family might require in order to get through the power outage comfortably. The emergency kit should be stocked well enough to at least meet the requirements of your family for a period of 72 hours. Having a backup power supply system in place would be the best approach.
Flickering Lights
Flickering lights could indicate poor contact in the switches or a short in the wiring. In addition to being annoying, they also pose a significant risk and can cause a fire. While flickering lights might seem like a small issue, it is important to have the issue resolved and checked by an expert as they can be a safety hazard.
Power issues in your home can put a stop to a large number of your daily activities. While most of these issues are a minor inconvenience, some of them could compromise you and your family’s safety, and it is important to have them addressed as soon as possible. Not addressing minor issues in time could lead to more serious risks and damage and lead to more expensive repairs.
