You want your office to be a productive place that makes you money without costing too much. However, a lot of that productivity relies on electricity that is safe and available. You need to know the warning signs that your office could benefit from the attention of an electrician so you can keep your operations going safely.
Circuit Breaker Keeps Tripping
Circuit breakers will trip once in a while. They’re designed to do that as a safety feature. However, if yours is getting tripped on a very frequent basis, then you might have an underlying issue that needs to be checked out by an electrical professional. Just resetting it every time might seem like the quickest and easiest thing to do, but you’re risking running up a huge repair bill.
Sparks Fly
Sparks flying doesn’t just refer to the latest office romance people are gossiping about at the water cooler. If sparks are physically flying every time an appliance is plugged in or even unplugged, then your power system needs to be looked at by an electrical contractor as soon as possible. Sparks are sometimes normal, but they might also indicate overheated system elements, water damage, and melted insulation.
Warm Outlets
Normally, electrical outlets will be the same temperature as everything else in the room that they are in. They might even be a little cooler to the touch since they’re made of plastic or other non-conductive substances. Warm outlets usually indicate something isn’t right. Also, be wary of any outlet that is cracked, chipping, or just visibly broken.
Flickering Lights
Any light might flicker at times, but frequent flickering can reduce morale and productivity. It can even give some employees headaches and make a poor impression on visitors and customers. The problem is that flickering lights can happen for many reasons. It could be the bulbs, it could be the electrical system, and it can even be just too many things being plugged in and running at the same time. Let a professional come in and find out for you.
Keep an eye out for all of these warning signals no matter what kind of office you are in, but do so more frequently if you are in an older or aging facility. Find out how long it has been since you had even an electrical maintenance inspection. Arrange for one if you are overdue or have any concerns.
Bio: Rachelle Wilber is a freelance writer living in the San Diego, California area. She graduated from San Diego State University with her Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Media Studies. She tries to find an interest in all topics and themes, which prompts her writing. When she isn’t on her porch writing in the sun, you can find her shopping, at the beach, or at the gym. Follow her on Twitter and Facebook: @RachelleWilber; https://www.facebook.com/people/Rachelle-Wilber/100009221637700/