Nearly every place in America, whether it's residential or commercial, runs on electricity. That's why, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 762,600 electricians were employed in 2022. Electricians can perform all kinds of repairs. Here are five that are typically performed by a residential electrician.

1. Determining What the Buzzing Sound Is

When you hear a persistent buzzing and you know you don't have any insects, bees, or wasps, something may be going on with your electricity. Before you make any call, listen to what it sounds like. Your refrigerator might hum, but it's usually not overloaded. The wiring, on the other hand, could be. If it's not the wiring, your circuit breaker could be the thing that's overloaded. While some of them are designed to automatically shut off if they're getting too much electricity, others might just try to handle it, which results in buzzing sounds that can lead to other not-so-good signs, like sparks flying.

After determining that, yes, the buzzing sound is something electrical, your next order of business should be to call a residential electrician. They will inspect your place and make sure that there are no overloaded wires or circuit breakers that can cause potentially dangerous situations. Shut your electricity off and contact a professional as soon as you can.

2. Replacing Blown Fuses

When you hear the phrase "blown fuse," you might think of a fuse box suddenly showing sparks as a fuse goes out. It actually means that a thin strip in the fuse has melted, which means it just stopped working. While you might know a bit about replacing these things, it's better to have someone who has been trained in how to do these things take care of it for you.

If you find that you're having to make these calls a lot, then that means that you're taxing your fuses too much. There's another thing to look out for and that's a short circuit. This is also another thing that you should consult the expertise of an electrician to make sure that everything is done safely.

3. Determining What the Burning Smell Is

Just like a buzzing sound, a burning smell is a sign that something is not working right in your home. You don't want that burning smell to result in a fire. Electrical fires can start in the blink of an eye and can be dangerous. You need to have a residential electrician see what the problem is right away.

What they'll do is see where the smell is coming from, whether it's from a heating vent, an outlet, or a single spot in your home. The surest sign is scorch marks or smoke. They will likely turn off the electricity until they can figure out how to fix the source of the burning smell.

4. Fixing Sparks

Other than a burning smell and hearing buzzing sounds, you can also experience electric sparks, which can be continuously coming out of your power outlets. While you may only see a brief spark when you plug anything in, that could be an indicator that there's a major problem. It's vital to get in touch with an expert to prevent further issues.

5. Tightening Loose Power Outlets

Loose power outlets are a big problem. That's one way that the sparks can escape and create a dangerous scenario. It may seem simple to just screw it in tighter but it takes more than that. Something like this can typically happen over time and may not be noticeable at first. A professional can tell you more about the issue and take the necessary steps to resolve it.

These are just a few of the services that residential electricians can provide. Don't wait to call them to look at what is going on in your electrical systems. Anything they fix will be worth it since it's far less expensive to pay an electrician than it is to have to pay to rebuild whatever is permanently damaged. It's important to keep you, your family, and your home safe.

Are you looking for a residential electrician? Turn to Mountain Valley Electric. Our team of electricians are trained and up to date with their trade. Contact us today to request an estimate.