If you’re tripping your circuit breaker when you turn on a light, or if your charger plugs are falling out of your outlets then these could be signs that your switches or outlets are worn out and need replacing. Don’t ignore these signs, they could mean that your home needs more serious, professional electrical attention!
Video Transcript
Have you ever thought about how many times you turn on a light switch or plug something into an outlet well over the course of 20 years that could be thousands of times. Hi, I’m Miriam Johnson, co-host of tv series Hometime. Switches and outlets wear out with daily use. When they wear out they can become dangerous. Here are a few things you can do to make sure your outlets and switches are safe to use.
If a switch doesn’t work or it trips a breaker, it’s time to replace the switch. If it’s really loose or it sticks when you use it, that could be a sign that something is broken inside the switch. When the plug slides right out of the outlet that means the outlet has become too weak to hold the plug. When that happens it’s time to replace the outlet. Now that’s because there’s a loose connection between the plug and the outlet. Space creates an arc of electricity that can jump between the plug and the outlet, and that can create a fire hazard. If electrical outlets or switch plate covers are discolored, this is a sign that the connections behind the faceplates are overheating. And believe it or not, I’ve seen switches and outlets that smoke when they’re used, which is a pretty dangerous situation that needs to be addressed immediately by a qualified electrician. If you’d like more information about outlets and switches in your home, give us a call. We’ll be happy to help you out!
