Broken Electrical Outlet: Call An Emergency Electrician | Wilmington, NC
You won’t believe it, but a broken electrical outlet can be more dangerous than you’d think. To most people in Wilmington, NC, an electrical outlet or “wall socket” is an essential fixture in their homes for charging cell phones and plugging in lamps. But as you may know, there’s more to outlets than meets the eye, and when they break or get damaged, they can pose some serious risks to you and your home. While it’s unlikely that stray electricity will cause your house to catch fire, several other dangers are associated with faulty electrical outlets.
A Fire Hazard
Fire is a hazardous and destructive force. It can quickly spread throughout your home, endangering everyone who lives there. If you suspect that your electrical outlet has broken and is putting you at risk of fire, it’s essential to contact an emergency electrician to prevent this disaster from happening.
The first step in preventing fire hazards from an electrical outlet is checking all the outlets in your house for any signs of damage or wear. This will ensure that no sparks can escape through these openings in the outlet and cause an electrical fire. If you see any cracks or breaks in the outlet itself, call an emergency electrician to get them replaced right away.
Additionally, check all plugs connected to this particular outlet. If they are worn out or damaged, an electrician will replace them before continuing with any further steps, such as replacing a damaged power strip. Once done with checking all outlets in the house, make sure all appliances have been unplugged from wall sockets so there will be no chance for sparks escaping.
Electrocution
Electrocution happens when electricity travels through your body from one conductive object to another, from your hand to an outlet. Electricity will always travel along the path of least resistance. If there are multiple paths for electrons to travel between the objects involved, they’ll take the easy route rather than choosing one that involves more hassle or resistance. In that case, your body could become part of that path. If this happens, contact an emergency electrician to check your electrical system.
Wasted Energy
Allowing electricity to travel through an outlet that isn’t plugged in energy wastage. When you’re done with your appliances and turn them off, the electricity flows through their power cords and into the outlet. Even though it’s not in use, this flow of electricity wastes energy by turning it into heat as it travels along unneeded wires.
Another way people in Wilmington, NC, waste energy is by plugging in devices incorrectly. Each appliance gets its dedicated circuit without interference from another device occupying an adjacent space. If one of your plugs doesn’t fit entirely into your outlet or if you have loose connections between wiring, you’ll waste more than just a few dollars on your next electric bill, and you could risk an electrical fire. To avoid this hazard, make sure an electrician checks all your outlets are working correctly before using them for anything else.
Blown Fuses or Tripped Circuit Breakers
A blown fuse or tripped circuit breaker are signs of a short circuit. A short circuit occurs when electricity flows along unintended pathways, such as through your body, rather than the intended pathway. This can cause fire and damage to electrical devices and household appliances.
Fuses and circuit breakers are designed to blow when they encounter a problem to prevent further damage and fires. If the circuit breaker trips regularly, it indicates a problem with your electric system, and you should immediately contact an emergency electrician.
Damaged Electronics/Appliance
If you’ve ever had an electrical outlet or appliance damaged by a power surge, you know it can be pretty expensive to replace the damaged item. Electrical shocks can do a lot more than surprise you. It could cause fires, injuries, and even power outages. A typical surge protector will protect against these accidents but not eliminate them.
If you have an older home with older wiring or outlets that don’t have built-in protection, then there’s still a chance something will go wrong despite having one installed on each device/outlet in your house. In this case, you should contact an emergency electrician immediately.
Damage to Your Home’s Electrical System
When you plug in a device, the current flows from that outlet through your circuit breaker and then to all other outlets connected to it. If one outlet is overloaded, it can cause damage to your home’s electrical system. When you overload an outlet, you’re putting more demand on your home’s power supply than it can handle. This extra pressure will force energy elsewhere, and when there’s no other place for that energy to go without causing damage or fire hazards, you’ll see some problems.
Short Circuits
A short circuit occurs when the current cannot flow through the circuit, jumping from one wire to another. A short circuit can be dangerous because it can damage your electrical outlets and start a fire. You should always check the electrical outlets in your home for signs of a short circuit before using them. You can tell if you have a problem with your electrical outlet if you smell burning plastic or melting wires, or sparks fly out of the outlet when you plug in something
If any of these things happen, unplug all appliances from the outlet immediately and call an emergency electrician. Do not use that outlet until an expert has fixed it.
Power Surges and Shocks
To protect your home and its electronics from power surges, the emergency electrician will need to change your home’s electrical system. First, he’ll want to install an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) unit on your electrical circuits. These units will provide backup power when the primary circuit fails due to a surge or shock. They can also help prevent damage if someone accidentally unplugs something while plugging it into the wall socket.
We Are Here To Keep You Safe From Electrical Dangers
Don’t take chances with your electrical system. It’s not worth risking a fire in your home for convenience. If you notice any warning signs of a broken outlet or another problem with your wiring, call an emergency electrician immediately to get the issue inspected and repaired before it becomes more dangerous. Mister Sparky of Wilmington has reliable emergency electricians in Wilmington, NC, who use up-to-date tools and technology to diagnose the problem. We also offer advice for future repairs and maintenance routines and design new lighting or outlets if needed.