3 Wiring Problems To Watch For In Winter

The winter months bring cool temperatures and precipitation for most homeowners. Winter weather can take a toll on your home's electrical system, especially if some of the components within your electrical system have fallen into disrepair.

Wire problems can become a serious safety hazard when the wires are exposed to melting snow and ice. Watch out for these three wiring problems around your home, and invest in immediate repairs if you spot any of these dangerous wiring conditions.

1. Damaged Exterior Wiring

Anytime the wiring within your home's electrical system is exposed to the elements, the risk of malfunction increases. Exterior wiring is particularly vulnerable to winter weather because it is continually exposed to moisture.

Damaged exterior wiring can interact with melting snow and ice to spark a short in your electrical system. Sometimes these shorts can also spark a flame that puts your home at risk of being engulfed by fire.

An experienced electrician can inspect and repair all of your home's exterior wiring to prevent serious electrical shorts and fires in the future.

2. Frayed Wires

The wires that make up modern electrical systems are typically encased in a protective plastic sheath. When this sheath becomes damaged or starts to deteriorate, the wiring within can become frayed.

Winter weather often forces rodents inside homes. Rodents within your walls can damage your electrical wiring by chewing through the plastic sheath.

Frayed wires have the potential to create electrical fires, so they should always be repaired by a qualified electrician. You should be conducting a visual inspection of all exposed wiring in your home to check for fraying.

You can have your electrician complete routine inspections to identify fraying in hidden wires as well. The faster you address fraying with the right repairs, the safer your home will be this winter.

3. Overloaded Circuits

Homeowners often use more electricity during the winter months. Whether you are hanging holiday lights or plugging in space heaters to help keep warm, an increase in your electrical demand could spell trouble.

The wiring in your home is only equipped to handle a certain volume of electrical energy at any given time. When your demand exceeds this volume, the electrical circuits become overloaded. An overloaded circuit can be a fire hazard.

If you notice your circuits tripping on a regular basis, this could be an indication that you are overloading your circuits.

An electrician can help you evaluate your electrical needs and update the circuits in your home to prevent overloaded circuits from threatening the safety of your family. Contact a contractor who offers electrical repair services to learn more.

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