In homes and other establishments, outlets connect electrical devices to the mains energy supply of alternating current. Different voltage and current ratings, shapes, sizes, and connector types distinguish electrical outlets from one another. An outlet makes us utilize electricity without harming ourselves; thus, it is one of the most important electrical components we could ever ask for. By plugging in, we can ensure our appliances, devices, and other things that require electricity to work.
Normally, an outlet also faces difficulties along the way. It is not a surprise to happen most, especially if your home is more than 20 years old or those spaces with no proper inspection and maintenance from experts. The most common issue every homeowner encounters is a loose outlet, and most of you find it alarming at home. And yes, you should be alarmed with a loose outlet. A broken or loose electrical outlet can certainly cause a fire, depending on how it is broken. But most of the time, loose outlets are one of the major contributors that trigger a fire in most homes.
The probability of an electrical fire and how hazardous these fires may be, even when compared to a non-electrical fire, are acknowledged by most homeowners. However, not all homeowners are as certain about how these fires occur. Little did they know that a simple loose outlet at home could cause a fire that would surely cause structural damage and harm lives. Hence, when it comes to any electrical issues you have noticed, you should never ignore them and rather take immediate action to resolve things as early as possible. Doing so will keep your home and your family from possible damages caused by a fire.
But how does a loose outlet cause a fire? It isn’t always necessary for the heat produced by a bad connection to be enough to ignite a fire. Poor connections frequently spark, which is when electricity arcs across the air in search of the path of least resistance. If it comes this close, this spark could cause something flammable to catch fire. Another possibility is that the wires themselves heat up to the point where they melt, causing fragments of copper or other conductive materials to fly off and ignite nearby items. Therefore, not only your electrical system gets damaged but also your other things like appliances, gadgets, etc.
In these circumstances, it is highly advised to entrust the problem to certified people. This kind of electrical issue at home requires sufficient skills and knowledge to solve things accurately. So if you are not confident enough, you better let qualified experts do the job. We at Zoom Electricians are your trusted electrical professionals who will be with you through any electrical problems. If you have a broken outlet at home that you cannot address, do not worry, as we offer the best and most reliable outlet repair services.
The Best Thing to do When You Have a Loose Outlet
The first and most appropriate thing you must do once you have a loose outlet is you must refrain from using that outlet until the issue has been fixed as your first action. Appliances should be disconnected immediately. To prevent unforeseen issues from starting a fire while you wait to fix the issue, you should also turn off the electricity at the fuse board. Since the plug is almost surely connected to a circuit with numerous other outlets in your home, doing so will imply turning off the electricity to other areas of your house.
Most people would consider temporarily losing power to some or all of their electrical outlets as a better way to prevent having an electrical fire in their house. But for your convenience, we have the common outlet issues you may encounter in the long run. Take time to read these issues that come with solutions to be well informed.
How to Fix a Non-Working Electrical Outlet
- Check whether this is a GFCI outlet. If so, press the reset button.
- See if the faulty outlet’s circuit breaker has flipped off at the electrical service panel. If it has, switch the breaker first in the opposite direction and then back again in the right one.
- Check any upstream (line) outlets on the same circuit between the afflicted outlet and the service panel when you return to the outlet.
- Once the circuit has been switched off, remove the faceplate from the outlet that isn’t working.
- Conventional, non-GFCI outlets rarely fail, but they occasionally do. Replace the outlet with a different, comparable outlet if you think this is the case. Even though GFCI outlets cost far more than non-GFCI outlets, complete replacement is frequently the only choice.
How to Fix a Warm or Sparking Outlet
- Plug any cables that connect to the faulty outlet.
- After removing the outlet itself, remove the outlet cover.
- Check to see if the wire ends are all securely attached. Sparks will form when disconnected wires come in contact with one another, cutting off the circuit.
- Replace it if there is any doubt regarding the state of the receptacle. You can change an outlet by yourself with relative ease, which will increase your sense of security.
How to Fix a Tripped Circuit Breaker
An overloaded system is the most frequent cause of circuit breakers tripping at home.
- Turn off the appliances that consume a lot of electricity, flip the breaker, and try again.
- If the breaker does not shut off, plug in one appliance or light, turn it on, and try again.
- Upgrade your home from 100 or 150 amp service to 200 amp service.
If you have a fuse at home rather than a circuit breaker, this alone may indicate that your service panel is outdated and insufficient for your needs.
How to Fix a Cord That Suddenly Falls out of an Outlet
You may already be aware of the fast, simple solution. The wire will remain in the outlet if the plug’s prongs are bent outward. Replacement wires are frequently available in hardware stores. However, be cautious when handling appliance cords, as they are not always simple. The best available solution, however, is to replace the outlet entirely. It is natural for outlets that are 20 years old or older to wear out.
Following the given steps, you can ensure your home is free from possible damage caused by fires. These given tips are guaranteed to be reliable and effective as per our experts, and will surely give you help.
Do not wait any longer for your loose outlet to get worse, and hire us now. With Zoom Electricians, rest assured you’ll enjoy worthwhile services our certified experts provide.
