Danger of Overloading Electrical Circuits

Electrical circuit overloads happen when more amperage is put across an electrical wire or circuit than it can handle. This can be the result of having multiple appliances or devices running on the same circuit at the same time.

The first sign of an overloaded circuit is a breaker that trips. This is a warning that too many amps are being drawn through that circuit. This means the wire and receptacles on that circuit has been heated to an extreme temperature potentially causing damage and increase the risk of fire.

Another sign may be buzzing sounds originating from the electrical panel. Even if the buzzing stops, there’s still cause for a more in-depth inspection. The buzzing sound could be the result of a mechanical vibration or the contacts arcing. It might also be possible that the sound is coming from the bimetallic strip that trips the breaker.

The solution to this is unsafe situation is to have a technician come into your home and diagnose what is causing the circuit to draw more amps than it is rated to draw. The technician will then determine how many dedicated circuits need to be added to accommodate the additional loads.