Unintentionally overloading a circuit can be easy to do, especially during special events like holiday parties, home improvement projects or family functions. Connecting lots of holiday lights and decorations to a single system, running several cooking appliances or electric tools at once are all common hazards.
Look for the warning signs of dangerous electrical conditions on your circuits.
When a circuit breaker pops and you lose power in part of the home, that’s an obvious sign the system is overwhelmed. The circuit breaker is designed to prevent overloads from happening, but they don’t always work as they’re supposed to, especially as they age. It’s possible for the circuit to be overloaded, but continue operating, which leads to a risk of a fire.
Beyond the breaker, there are other signs to look for.
You may see lights begin to flicker, blink or dim while using other appliances. Wall outlet faceplates or even the outlet receptacle faces can get warm or even discolored when the circuit is overloaded. Outlets may crackle, sizzle or buzz when things are connected. There could be a strong smell coming from the receptacle or light switches. Most obviously, users could get a mild shock or feel a tingling sensation when they touch a plug, light switch or appliance.
The best way to keep your home and family safe is to avoid doing things that can cause an overload. Even small kitchen gadgets can use a surprising amount of power. We’ve all needed an extra outlet, and those multiple outlet converters can be useful, but they also shouldn’t be used with appliances. Major appliances, like refrigerators or microwaves, should always be plugged directly into a wall outlet. As a good rule of thumb, only connect one heat-producing appliance into a receptacle at a time.
