Regularly blown fuses or tripped breakers could be a symptom of an overloaded circuit or a severe fault within your electrical system. These incidents might not only lead to a disruption in your daily routine, but also indicate a potential safety hazard.

Circuit breakers are designed to protect your home from electrical overload. So, if your circuit breakers are continually popping, it's a clear sign they're struggling to do that.

It could be a sign of a loose or old wiring connection if your lights dim or flicker without apparent reason. This is more than an annoyance—it might also signify a serious electrical problem that could lead to more significant issues down the line.

Switch plates should never feel hot. If they do, it could be a sign of too much current passing through the switch, which needs immediate attention to prevent potential fire hazards.

If this burning smell is near your outlets and switches, it’s a serious sign of a potential fire hazard. It typically indicates overheating or a short circuit within the electrical system.

“Arcing”, or sparking near outlets when you plug in or unplug cords, could be due to a short circuit or another serious electrical problem. This is a dangerous situation that can lead to electrical fires.

This could be a sign of faulty wiring and may indicate an underlying issue with your broader electrical system.

This is an exceptionally dangerous sign indicating a possible grounding issue. It's crucial to have this checked by our professionals ASAP.

These can cause serious electrical faults and should be replaced. Not only can they lead to poor connections and power fluctuations, but they can also pose a risk of electric shock or fire.

Two-prong outlets are outdated and do not provide the grounding protection found in modern three-prong outlets. The result is a heightened risk of electrical shock, particularly in areas where water is present, like kitchens and bathrooms.

Usually, this sort of outlet has one port that is connected to the other port by a switch. The switch stops or starts the flow of electricity from the outlet, so whatever it is providing power does not need to be on at all times. Instead of having the device unplugged, what you can do is to simply switch the outlet off.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets cut the flow of electricity upon the detection of a short circuit or ground fault. This especially protects against water electrocution, which is the reason they are mandatory for the kitchen and bathroom, or any other place in the home near the water. They look just like the standard outlets but they have two buttons that are used to reset the tripped outlet. If you have an older home and it doesn’t have these outlets within 6 ft. of your water sources, you can have a professional install them so that your family is safe from shock or injury.

Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter AFCI outlets only became standard in 1999, so older homes may not have them. The purpose of installing AFCI outlets at the electrical panel is to keep electricity from jumping or arcing, from one wire to another, which is a common cause of home fires. A professional electrician can install AFCI outlets in an older home and would do so either at the breaker box or right at the beginning of each circuit so the whole line is protected.

Some household appliances use more power than is available from the average electrical outlet. Places like the kitchen or laundry room usually have 20A outlets that provide more power to devices that need a lot more energy to run. You can tell a 20A outlet from a regular one by the small slit that runs perpendicular to the prong opening on the left side.

In case your breakers are frequently tripping or your appliance requires more power than outlets can supply, an electrician can upgrade your outlets to 20A to make your appliances work properly.

Many modern devices become operational through the use of USB cords but they can’t be used with traditional outlets without using an adapter. Luckily, some outlet models on the market now have integrated USB ports directly on the outlet so the user doesn’t have to worry about constantly lugging around an adapter for their devices. A USB outlet may have two regular ports along with two USB ports, and some models have four USB ports only and no regular ports at all. Your family can choose and mix-and-match between the two styles depending on the areas of the home and their specific needs—and whatever you decide on, an electrician can take care of the electrical outlet installation.

If you use a smart outlet, you can use an app or even a voice-controlled speaker to manage the plugged-in device. This can make it easier to turn devices on and off wirelessly and even allows homeowners to set schedules for their daily use.

Lights can turn on and off during specific times in the day even when you are not home. Another reason to do this is to lower your energy bills and increase the outlet’s efficiency. Even though smart outlets are more expensive, they have endless benefits.

If the outlets are out of order or they have burn marks on them they should be inspected by an electrician. Working with electrical power can be hazardous for those new to the different wires and the home’s system, particularly if there are issues. To avoid these risks, contact your local electrician for help with any electrical job required.