Electrical Question from John about Repairing Electrical Wiring
Background: John, a Handyman from Flint, MI

Question: Is there any suspected problems when lights flicker on and off in your house and appliances turn on and off by themselves?

Additional Comments: Great site!

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question John. Most often this is the symptom of a deteriorating connection that is occurring most likely at the electrical panel. The suspect areas are the neutral wire terminations, a main breaker that is starting to go bad, a main circuit breaker connection to the buss, a main service termination in a lug, or a splice that is going bad at the main overhead electrical service connection from the electrical utility company. A condition such as this will deteriorate over time and has the potential of requiring a major electrical repair job. The first thing I recommend is to call your electrical utility company and explain the occurrences. Most utility companies will dispatch a service technician who will inspect their side of the service wiring. If they do not find any problems then I would call a licensed electrical contractor who can perform a series of inspections and tests which will identify the problem. This could be a serious condition which requires professional attention.

The Following links will assist you with your electrical question:

For more information about Repairing Electrical Wiring
Electrical Repairs

This link is helpful as a Handyman
Do-It-Yourself Electrical

Make sure not to miss these Resources for: Electrical Safety
Home Electrical Safety

Be Careful and Be Safe – Never Work on Energized Circuits!

For Best Results Consult a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Locate An Electrical Contractor in Your Area