Keep the Spark Alive: How to Spot & Prevent Electrical Issues in Your Appliances
From flickering lights to strange smells, electrical issues in your appliances can be serious. Here’s how to address them before they get worse.
Electricity is integral to our homes. From our food to our clothes to the large majority of our entertainment, all of it has something to do with electricity. Our appliances especially with a few notable exceptions, run on electricity. Which means keeping that spark working properly and safe is important. This week we're looking at the risks that can occur from an overloaded circuit or faulty wiring as well as how to spot and take preventative measures.
WHAT IS AN OVERLOAD?
Before we go digging into your appliances and how your home is set up, you need to understand what an overload is and what causes them.
An electrical circuit is the path that electricity flows along. It's made up of wires, conductors, switches, and a circuit breaker, which acts as a safety device. A circuit allows electricity to flow from the power source or outlet to all of the devices that are hooked to that outlet.
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If you think of a circuit like A river, then a circuit is overloaded when the water passing through it is at more than what the appliances and devices connected to it need or when they are pulling too much through the circuit. For example if your outlet is pulling double what your refrigerator needs, it is as if the river has overflowed. The gauge of the wire, the rating of the circuit breaker, and the electrical panel all work together to establish the maximum load for a circuit. And this is why the other type of an overload can happen, when appliances are pulling more than what an outlet is rated for.
While it can be hard to wrap your head around at first, understanding this concept is crucial to your home. Every circuit in your home has a set amount that it can handle safely. Overloading these circuits can lead to overheating, tripped breakers, broken appliances, or electrical fires.
Recognizing the Warning Signs
Being able to recognize the warning signs in your appliances all the potential overload not only keeps you safe but it keeps your appliances safe. Electrical problems can often start small but they will escalate and rapidly.
Flickering and dimming lights are a sign to watch out for. This can indicate an overloaded circuit that's working to supply power.
If your circuit breaker trips and then immediately trips again after you turn it back on this is another sign to watch out for. This means that it is detecting excessive current.
The next step on the warning scale is if you have a smell of burning from your outlets or your appliances and you aren't cooking anything yet. This can mean that the wiring or the insulation are overheating.
And then you need to keep an eye out , or maybe an ear out, for buzzing. Buzzing in either outlets or an appliance can and often does indicate that either wires are loose or that it is drawing too much power.
If your outlets start to become warm to the touch or worse discolored, this is not a sign this is a red flag. It is getting hot enough that you need to worry about a fire soon.
If you notice any of these issues, take immediate action to prevent potential electrical damage or fire hazards.
Common Causes of Electrical Overloads
So we know what an overload is, and warning signs to look out for, the next step to keeping spark alive in your house is knowing the causes. What can you do today to keep that spark alive for years to come?
Don't Put Too Many Devices on One Circuit
Plugging in power hungry appliances, like your refrigerator, space heaters, and dryers on the same circuit can easily overload that circuit. Kitchen circuits are especially prone to this problem. So make sure that you know which outlets are rated for what in your home. If you're buying new you should be able to ask, or you can ask an electrician to come out and give you a hand.
2. Old or Outdated Wiring
Older homes, like those that were built in Grapevine and Bedford, don't always have wiring that was designed for modern electrical loads. Unless the house was gutted and rewired, many of these homes are built to older codes, and can struggle with the number of electronics we use today. This can cause the wiring to overheat and fail which increases fire risks.
3. Faulty or Failing Appliances
If you have an appliance that you haven't gotten to take care of yet, or haven't noticed that there was a problem, it may draw excessive power. If it's damaged or defective it can easily draw so much that it causes circuit breakers to trip.
4. Extension Cord Overuse
Say it with us. Extension cords are like Band-Aids. They're a temporary fix not a permanent one. Using extension cords long-term or worse Daisy-chaining them together, creates dangerous situations. We love having flowers around the house but Daisy chains are not one of them.
And in the event that you haven't heard of the term daisy chain, that is when you plug one extension cord into another extension cord and hope that everything turns out fine. It doesn't. Especially if you have a power hungry set of computers plugged in. That's a recipe for fire.
5. Loose or Corroded Wiring
Poor electrical connection, such as between a plug and an outlet that has corrosion, can increase the resistance within the circuit. This can cause overheating and circuit failure as the appliance tries to draw power and gas to work harder to get it.
Courtesy of Shelton Keys Dunning
6. Multiple High-Wattage Devices Running Simultaneously
Even if they're on completely separate outlets, they might not be on separate circuits. So having multiple large appliances running at the same time can push the limits of an older electrical system. An example of this is having to make sure you run only your microwave or your toaster oven and not both at the same time because it'll flip the breaker. This is an example of multiple things on one circuit, but plugged into separate outlets.
How to Prevent Electrical Overloads
Fortunately there are steps that you can take to protect your home under appliances.
Distribute your high wattage appliances across separate circuits.
Don't plug them all into the same circuit and definitely not into the same outlet. The sole exception to this if your house was intentionally wired for it, would be the washer and dryer. And those are usually on a separate circuit of their own with a dedicated outlet.
Use power strips with surge protectors
A power strip is not the same thing as an extension cord. Yes it does act to let you plug multiple things into an outlet, but it also has a mini breaker of its own so that if it gets overheated it will shut off.
Smart outlets are your friends
Appliances and other electronics still draw power even when turned off. Previously it was necessary to just completely unplug them. Now with the Advent of smart plugs, you can shut them off either on a timer or from your phone much easier and it makes your electric bill easier to handle as well.
Upgrade outdated wiring
If you know that you're home is an older home, 50 years or more, it would not hurt to have an electrician out to inspect the wiring system. They may advise you to upgrade, they might not. As we are not electricians, this is important but outside of our ballpark.
Electrical Hazards & Consequences
Ignoring electrical issues isn't any good for you or your appliances. Just like a relationship ignoring the problem will not make it go away, it just grows teeth and gets bigger.
Ignoring electrical issues can lead to serious dangers, including:
Courtesy of Ulrike Mai
Electrical Fires – Overheating wires can ignite surrounding materials, leading to devastating house fires.
Damaged Appliances – Power surges and overloads can shorten the lifespan of expensive appliances.
Electric Shocks – Faulty wiring or overloaded outlets can increase the risk of shocks, which can cause severe injuries.
Burns, muscular spasms, heart collapse, and other potentially fatal consequences can ensue from receiving an electric shock. Overloading circuits, needing more insulation, and not getting expert advice from electricians are all things that can increase the danger of electric hazards.
Arcing & Short Circuits – Overloaded circuits or damaged wiring can cause electrical arcing, which produces extreme heat and sparks, increasing fire risks.
Structural Damage – Persistent overheating can degrade wiring insulation and even damage walls or electrical panels over time.
Increased Energy Costs – Overloaded circuits force appliances to work harder, leading to inefficiency and higher electricity bills.
Frequent Power Outages – An overloaded electrical system may cause regular outages or failures.
When to Call a Professional
If you experience any of the following appliance-related electrical issues, Appliance Rescue Service is here to help:
An Appliance Is Tripping the Circuit Breaker Repeatedly – If resetting the breaker doesn’t solve the issue, the appliance may have an internal fault.
An Appliance Overheats or Emits a Burning Smell – This could indicate wiring issues or motor failure inside the unit.
A Major Appliance Suddenly Stops Working – Especially if there was no power surge or visible damage, it may need professional repair.
A Faulty Appliance Shows Signs of Electrical Issues – Buzzing sounds, inconsistent performance, or visible sparks mean it needs servicing.
A Fridge, Washer, or Dryer Loses Power Unexpectedly – If the issue isn't with the circuit itself, the appliance may have an electrical fault.
Don’t wait for sparks to fly—take action today to keep your home safe and your appliances running smoothly. If you notice persistent electrical problems—such as frequent breaker trips, buzzing outlets, or burning smells—it’s best to consult a licensed electrician. Regular inspections can prevent small problems from turning into major, costly repairs.