With nights longer than days in winter, we rely on electricity even more than usual. From heating our homes to drying the laundry, our electrical circuits and appliances get a serious workout. It’s also during this time that the weather wreaks havoc; trees can come down, and heavy rain can cause floods and leaking. All these things can impact on the safety of your home. As a Sydney emergency electrician, I’ve seen more than my fair share of electrical disasters, many of which could have been avoided or minimised had people called an emergency electrician at the first warning sign.
Here’s a list of some of the most common electrical emergencies – if you come across any of these situations do not hesitate to give us a call right away. We’re available 24 hours a day, and the safety of your home and family is our biggest concern.
1: Electrical wires or appliances in water
Seems like a no brainer to keep your appliances and cords away from water, but you’d be surprised how often this can happen unexpectedly. During winter the risk increases – storms, floods, heavy rain and leaky houses can lead to an electrical emergency. If you find water near a socket, or your electrical wires or appliances are wet, keep your distance and call us immediately we’ll get a Northern Beaches electrician out to asses the situation.
2: Warm or hot outlets, switches or plugs.
Sometimes, heavy demand on a circuit can cause overheating which makes the outlet or plug feel warm to the touch. You might even notice blackening on switch terminals or the ends of wires in your fuse box. The problem could simply be too much demand on the circuit, but it could be something far more complicated and dangerous. Don’t take the risk.
3: Smoking sockets
A power socket emitting smoke can be a very dangerous fire hazard. Smoking sockets can be caused by a number of things like debris in the socket from an old appliance, an overloaded circuit, or faulty wiring. Sometimes, it’s simply a case of an electrical short at the outlet – this will cause a ‘pop’ and a small puff of smoke. But it could also be an indication of an electrical fire. If there is a steady amount of smoke coming from your socket, leave your house immediately and call the fire brigade. If you think you’ve simply had an outlet short, make sure to call us so we can get a Northern Beaches electrician out to investigate – these shorts can damage your wiring and create bigger problems down the track.
4: System interruption.
In winter we tend to use more appliances at the same time, which can trip the circuit or blow a fuse. Generally speaking, this isn’t a major concern, however if you’re noticing it happening more frequently it could indicate a serious and potentially dangerous fault on one or more circuits which needs to be checked by a licensed Northern Beaches electrician.
5: Power outages
Never fun, but even more problematic in winter when access to heating and hot water is a necessity. If you’ve checked that it’s not a problem with your electricity distributor, give us a call and we’ll be there as soon as we can. It also pays to have an emergency kit ready to go should you be without power for some time.
Don’t wait until your left in the dark or even worse dealing with an electrical fire. If you spot any of these warning signs, call one of our emergency electricians. Not sure if you’ve got an emergency? Give our team a call and we’ll provide free, expert advice. We’re available 24 hrs, Sydney local, and will do whatever it takes to ensure your home and family are safe.