Disco Lights Without any Music…not a good sign
Last week, I was getting ready for bed and noticed lights flickering. I brushed it off; maybe it was the sump pump or the water softener running through a cycle. After a few minutes of the disco lights, I just had to investigate it. Lights in my room and my son’s room were blinking more now and then suddenly shut off. I headed to the circuit breaker box and found that no circuits had been tripped. That was odd….
Years ago, I had taken time to map my home’s electrical pathways, so I was able to trace the other switches and outlets on the same circuit. I found two of the outlets still worked while 6 others were dead. My gut told me this was not a good situation. So, before heading to bed, I made a very wise decision to shut off the affected circuit breaker.
In the daylight of a new day, I started tracing the pathway of the circuit to troubleshoot. There must have been a faulty switch or outlet that stopped the flow of power. With the breaker in the off position, I opened up several switches and outlets. I found a melted outlet in my son’s room. This outlet had burned wires and a melted plastic casing. I was horrified to find such a fire hazard in my kid’s wall. I removed the outlet and headed to the Home Depot. The pros in the electrical department told me what happened.
The outlet was arcing. This is when the flow of electricity moves through the air from one conductor to another. Arcing can produce flashes and flames. The wire entering the back of the outlet “arced” with the wire on the side until melting of wires and plastic caused the flow of power to stop. The outlet had been wired within building codes regulations but not by the most recommended electrical standards. Had I left the circuit live when I went to bed, the outlet may have continued to arc, creating a growing a fire hazard. It has since been replaced and juices are flowing again.
I find myself not feeling very comfortable with the potential for this to happen in my home again. I think we will be having more outlets checked and replaced in the near future! I want to pass on some simple tips to keep the electricity safely flowing at your house:
- Take time to map out the electrical circuits in your home. Use a working boom box or a portable lamp to see if the power turns off to each outlet as you turn off circuit breakers. Draw a map of each room and number the outlets, switches and built-in fixtures that are on each breaker. Circuits may be wired to various rooms so don’t be surprised by the crazy paths the wires take! Store the map in a plastic Ziploc bag on the breaker box cover so it is handy.
- Buy a simple circuit tester that you can use to check outlet voltages.
- If you experience blinking, flickering, sparks, random dimming and other disruptions in electrical flow, do not ignore it. Shut off the circuit breaker and unplug affected items. Call a pro.
- If circuits often trip (shut off automatically), they are probably overloaded and need a pro to redistribute the power or add a new circuit.
- Never cut off grounding plugs from the three prong cords. Be mindful of extension cords and surge protectors. Do not overload or run cords under carpets and other flammables, especially with holiday season upon us!
- Do not attempt to troubleshoot or repair electrical issues unless you are highly experienced and qualified to do so. Your safety is the priority.
If you have concern over electrical issues at your home, be sure to hire a licensed, insured and reputable serviceman. When I am in over my head and need a pro, I call Thome Electric in Horsham. As a homeowner, it is vital that you understand how your home works, what issues needs a little DIY attention and which issues are a red flag to seek a professional’s help. Do it for your family’s safety. Do it for peace of mind!
