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4 Most Common Electrical Problems and Solutions

New York City property owners and managers deal with many concerns, but perhaps few are more troublesome than electrical issues. Single-family homes, large apartment buildings, and commercial properties all have their share of issues in this department. Here’s a look at some of the most common electrical problems and solutions we see at Bolt Electric, so you can figure out what’s going on and know when it’s time to call in the pros.

Old Electrical Outlets

A Range of Problems

Buildings in New York don’t need to be extremely old to have outdated electrical outlets that become a problem. Because we rely so much on technology and electronics these days, buildings that are only a few decades old may need their outlets updating, although the need is typically more acute in more historic properties.

Too Few Outlets

We see this most often in offices, but we also deal with the issue in older homes. Plugging in too many appliances to a strip or extension cord can pose a fire risk. We suggest rewiring, adding enough outlets to accommodate modern needs.

Unstable Outlets

If your outlets shift on the wall, or if your plugs fall out on their own, this is likely due to loose connections or parts that need to be tightened. You may be able to do this on your own (remember to cut the power first). If you’d prefer to call the professionals, this is usually a quick, low-cost job and we can fix this issue for you.

Ungrounded Outlets

These are the old two-prong outlets from before appliance and machine plugs gained a third prong. Don’t use a “cheater plug” to turn a two-prong outlet into a three-prong one, as this can cause an electrical fire. Instead, have an electrician rewire and install new grounded outlets with the proper three holes.

No GFI Outlets

Your property should have ground-fault interrupter (GFI) outlets in places where water is present, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Industrial spaces may need these as well. When water is detected, GFI outlets shut off the current in microseconds, preventing user shock or electrocution.

Discontinued Breakers and Electrical Panels

Potential Danger

Some buildings have electrical panels and circuit breakers that have since been discontinued. These parts have been shown to malfunction and even cause electrical fires. If you find any panels with the following labels on your property, you should have your electrician replace them:

• Zinsco
• Challenger
• Federal Pioneer
• Federal Pacific Electric
• Bulldog Pushmatic

Even if you do not see one of these brands, you may still need your panel replaced. One clue that a part needs replacing is if the power goes out in a circuit due to excessive demand or a short, but the breaker is never tripped. Any signs of melting or charring inside your breaker box also indicate the need for panel replacement and demonstrate a fire hazard.

Sometimes the property may be “overwired,” meaning a larger panel is needed to handle all the electrical needs of the building. And all electrical panels have a maximum lifetime of about 40 years. If yours is older than that, it’s time for a new one.

Power Surges and/or Flickering Lights

Loose Connections

Flickering and dimming lights are often caused by poor connections, and you need to investigate the cause of this.

Sometimes, the loose connection will be immediately visible to you, and you can correct it yourself. But if you cannot identify the cause of intermittent power, it’s best to call a professional electrician.

One place we often see a loose connection is at the weatherhead, which is the spot where outdoor power lines enter the building. Lines at the weatherhead can become frayed over time. The good news is that your utility company will usually replace the weatherhead and fix any bad or loose wires there.

Internal and External Surges

Power surges can originate inside your property, or they can be external in nature. Typical external causes include:

• Lightning strike
• Damaged power lines
• Harm to a nearby transformer
• Power restored after an outage

If you suspect a power surge in your building is coming from outside, it’s best to contact your utility company and let them investigate.

Internal power surges usually occur when large appliances turn on and off, affecting the amount of current available for other items also drawing electricity. We find this is often due to wiring issues, and sometimes too many outlets are wired to the same circuit when they should be separated.

This is particularly common with older homes and pre-war apartment buildings. These residences were not originally wired for today’s modern appliances and small electronic devices. If this is the case, you may wish to rewire and create smaller circuits with their own breaker. We can check your wiring and panel and advise you on any changes to both eliminate internal power surges and reduce any other hazards from outdated wiring.

Light Bulbs Burning Out Frequently

A Costly Nuisance

While this common electrical issue is rarely associated with any serious hazards, it can be a drain on your time and budget. Usually, bulbs that burn out all the time are old-fashioned incandescent ones.

If you find yourself replacing incandescent light bulbs more often than you’d like, don’t despair. This is usually an easy DIY fix: replace your old bulbs with energy-efficient models.

Incandescent bulbs use a lot more energy because they generate more heat. Pair that with bulbs that don’t last as long as energy-efficient bulbs, and you could be wasting money when there are better options.

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) or even better, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are a much smarter choice. Depending on the size of your property, you could save hundreds of dollars over time. While energy-efficient bulbs cost more up front, they are worth it in the end. For example, LED bulbs last 15 to 20 times longer and use only 20 to 25 percent of the energy required by incandescents.

Pro tip: be careful of “overlamping,” or using a bulb with a wattage too high for the socket. If you are still using incandescent bulbs, they can overheat and cause a fire. Especially in older buildings, your sockets may not be rated for anything higher than 60W. If this is limiting what you need, talk to an electrician about upgrading your wiring.

If you replace your incandescent bulbs and still find bulbs going out often, it’s time to consult with an electrician. It could be due to loose sockets or circuits, especially in industrial buildings where there is a lot of vibration.

These are just a handful of the problems we encounter when working with our New York City clients. You may have other electrical concerns we haven’t mentioned, such as aluminum wiring that should be replaced with copper or a common electrical meter you’d like to break down into a number of submeters for billing convenience.

Don’t wait until there is a fire risk, or until tenants start handling their own repairs and deducting the cost from their rent. Call Bolt Electric today at 212-434-0098 or use our online form to schedule an appointment for a service. Remember: the minor electrical problems of today can become the costly and dangerous problems of tomorrow.