About Bull Creek Electric
While many electrical problems are minor, homeowners and tenants should recognize situations in which emergency services are needed when serious electrical problems arise. Good judgement wins the day when it comes to any type of house fire, no matter the cause. If a fire presents imminent risk to life and property, leave your home and call 911.
Emergencies
Bull Creek Electric does not offer emergency or 24-hr electrical services. To book an appointment during business hours, contact us.
Electrical fires
Electrical fires are unfortunately common in both residential and commercial settings.
In the event of an electrical fire, if you can safely get to the panel to turn off the main breaker, do it. This immediately shuts off power to your home's electrical system, stopping the "fuel" source for an electrical fire.
If an electrical fire is contained to a small area, an outlet or device, use a Class C fire extinguisher.
Do not try to use another class of fire extinguisher for electrical fires; they could cause the fire to spread or electrical shock. Do not try to put out an electrical fire with water. Water is a natural conductor of electricity. You could shock yourself, or potentially make the fire worse with water. If you are unable to address the fire, leave the building and call 911.
Downed power lines
This is a very serious situation. Never try to address this problem on your own. Power lines coming into your home or property carry extremely high levels of electrical current and can cause very serious injury or death if people or pets come into contact with them.
Call your electricity provider first to let them know about the emergency. They will safely handle downed power lines.
While you wait for emergency services to arrive, keep yourself and others, including pets, vehicles and equipment far away from the downed power lines.
Common Electrical Problems
There are many common problems that need a licensed electrician to address them without delay. If you experience any of these problems, text or call to book an appointment with Bull Creek Electric.
Electrical panels that trip often, or make noise
Electrical panels, also called breaker boxes, service panels or breaker panels, are designed to protect your home from overloaded electrical currents or other problems by interrupting the current. Circuit breakers in the panel "trip" the current when electrical problems are detected.
If the breakers fail to trip or trip often, this could be a serious hazard to your home and its occupants. There are many reasons why the breakers trip often, some more urgent than others. A licensed electrician will be able to troubleshoot the cause and make the necessary repairs.
Breakers that aren't working correctly might crackle or buzz. These noises are caused by older breakers that are unable to trip properly. This is a serious problem because of the risk of shock electrical fires.
If you hear sounds coming from the electrical panel or outlets, do not use or plug in appliances. Call an electrician immediately.
Burnt smell or smoke
Safety first, always. If you smell a strong smell of smoke, or see you see persistent smoke coming from outlets or anywhere else in your electrical system, leave your home and call 911. You could be smelling and seeing the beginning of an electrical fire.
If the smoke smell is more faint, and you don't know where the source of the smell is, turn off the power to your home and call an electrician immediately.
While you're waiting for the electrician to arrive, do not run appliances or use outlets.
Burnt outlets
Sometimes electrical outlets and switches get overloaded with current. Stained or burnt outlets and switches are telltale signs that there is a problem within the electrical system and it's at risk of catching fire.
Do not plug anything into stained or burnt outlets. Call an electrician immediately. Bull Creek Electric can safely troubleshoot and repair damaged devices.
Power outages
Power outages are usually caused by storms or there's a problem with a transformer in the neighbourhood. The local electricity service provider will be aware of the problem if there's been a storm and will repair damage along the electrical grid serving your community.
If there hasn't been a storm, it's still worthwhile to call the service provider to see if they are aware of any local problems.
If the service provider isn't aware of any problems, contact an electrician because sudden power outages mean your home electrical system isn't safe. Unseen problems like damaged wires or electrical devices could be causing the power outages and may be at serious risk of causing a fire.
Appliances or devices that feel hot
An excessively hot appliance is a warning sign that there's an issue with your electrical system. An overheated appliance can be caused by a variety of things, all of which need to be addressed to prevent damage or injury. Bull Creek Electric can identify the source of the overheated appliance.
Turn off the appliance immediately and unplug it, or turn off the breaker, and do not use it until the issue has been fixed and is safe to operate again.
Bull Creek Electric does not troubleshoot internal electrical problems in appliances. If you purchased your appliance locally, the store should be able to recommend a reputable repair specialist.
Shocks from outlets or appliances
There is no such thing as a safe electrical shock! They can cause devastating injuries or even death. Electricity is delivered to outlets and switches through a receptacle box, which is connected to wiring in the electrical system. Over time, the connections between electrical wires and switches can become loose. These loose connections can cause instability in the current and can cause shocks if you plug in an appliance or turn on a light switch.
If you receive a shock from an outlet or appliance, do not ignore it. Let Bull Creek Electric find the source of the problem and address it for you.
Sparks from outlets or switches
Whenever you plug an appliance into an outlet, it "jumps" onto the electrical circuit, which is always running in a continuous loop through your home's electrical system. When a plug and outlet connection are almost touching, electricity leaps across the small gap, creating a small blue spark. Whether you see it or not, this sparking is safe and normal.
However, there are certain types of sparks that shouldn't be ignored.
- A big spark – If sparks are jumping out of the holes in the outlet, this is a cause for concern. Small blue sparks are normal when plugging in an appliance.
- A yellow or white spark – Yellow or white sparks aren't normal. An electrician can find and fix the cause of these dangerous sparks.
- A long spark – Normal, blue sparks are very brief. If you see a spark linger or fizzle out, this is an indicator that there's a problem.
- A smoky, smelly spark – If a spark causes a burning or smoky smell, turn off the outlet at the electrical panel immediately.
If an outlet or switch sparks unusually when in use, don't ignore this warning sign that there are problems in the electrical system. Call Bull Creek Electric to address the problems.
Flickering Lights
Flickering lights can be a sign that there are problems in your home's electrical system, many of which all of which should be addressed by a licensed electrician.
Light circuits are usually rated for lower amps than outlets, so they are often the first devices in your electrical system to be affected by power disruptions. Here are some potential causes of flickering lights:
- A loose bulb
- Old or incompatible switches. Older dimmer switches that are made to work with incandescent bulbs won't work well with LEDs.
- Loose wiring
- Overloaded circuit
- Abnormal voltage fluctuations
- A fault in the switch or light fixture
If you've established that a loose bulb is not the culprit, you can still do some troubleshooting yourself. Try a working bulb from another fixture to see if that resolves the flickering. Some bulbs, even brand new ones, pulse or flicker very lightly. This is because of properties of the bulb itself, not a problem within the electrical system.
If you've established that a loose bulb or the kind of bulb you are using aren't to blame, Bull Creek Electric can troubleshoot the cause of the flickering lights.
An Ounce of Prevention
Small proactive efforts can have big payoffs when it comes to electrical safety in the home. There are many things all home owners and tenants can do to keep yourself, family members and pets safe.
Do...
- install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) detectors on every floor and outside of every sleeping area
- replace smoke alarms older than 10 years, whether they are battery operated, hardwired or a combination of both
- install protectors or tamper-resistant outlets to keep objects, and little fingers and paws out
- know your electrical panel. Locate the main breaker in case you need to shut off the power to the home.
- ensure plugs are rated for the equipment or appliances you intend to plug into them
- replace older breakers in electrical panels, as they tend not to trip. If there is a fault in the circuit and the breaker doesn't trip, the wires heat up and can cause an electrical fire.
- keep a Class C fire extinguisher in your home for electrical fires. Only a Class C fire extinguisher can be used to put out electrical fires in appliances, wiring, outlets or other sources of electrical fires.
- ensure your tenant or home insurance adequately covers your personal belongings and the structure in the event of fire, electrical or otherwise
- inspect devices monthly, and complete an annual electrical inspection. See our inspection checklist for recommended actions to take.
Don't...
- overload outlets with too many devices or appliances
- use extension cords for a permanent solution. If you reply on extension cords to power your appliances, your home probably needs additional electrical outlets.
- use extension cords to run space heaters or air conditioners
- plug large equipment or appliances into regular plugs without first ensuring they are rated for the equipment. Treadmills, space heaters, plug-in fireplaces and air conditioners, for example, often draw more power than what regular plugs are rated for.
- place heat-producing appliances or sources near wires
Inspection Checklist
Inspecting electrical devices and components regularly can help home owners and tenants avoid dangerous situations and damage to your home.
Monthly
- Inspect outlets, other devices, appliances and lamp cords, etc. for evidence of damage, especially if you have pets that like to chew them.
- Test Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs).
- Test smoke detectors.
- Clean your oven, range and exhaust hood, as needed.
Annually
- Replace batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Check that trees and other landscape features are not interfering with wires coming into your home.
- Vacuum refrigerator coils.
- Look at your electrical panel (breaker box) for burnt marks around breakers or fuses. Call an electrician to replace damaged components.
