What You Need To Know About Blown Fuses
A blown fuse is a particularly annoying problem that can have you and your family suddenly sitting in the dark. The good news is blown fuses are relatively simple to fix. If you have a home warranty, you can rest even easier knowing your electrical system is protected.
What is a blown fuse?
The majority of houses built after 1965 have circuit breakers to control the home's electrical circuits. Older homes that have updated their electrical circuits also have these, but in older homes that have not been updated, the electrical circuits are protected and controlled by fuses found in the main fuse box. These devices work the same as circuit breakers to protect against circuit overloads and short circuits. Instead of resetting them when they trip, you must replace fuses when they burn out or blow.
Did my fuse blow?
When your house or room suddenly loses power, your first thought will likely be that a fuse has blown. But, how can you be sure? Here are a few signs that you have, in fact, blown a fuse.
- Usually, the power goes out in a specific area of your house instead of going out throughout the entire home.
- Often, the area loses power when you are running several electrical appliances and turn on a different one. This overload will often cause a fuse to blow. As annoying as blown fuses are, it's important to know that when a fuse blows or the circuit breaker trips, it's actually a built-in safety precaution for your house that disrupts the electrical flow and helps stop overloaded wiring from sparking a fire.
- What may seem like a nuisance or an inconvenience is, in reality, is helping to keep your home and your family safe.
How to fix a blown fuse
The best advice we can give on fixing a blown fuse is to be as prepared as possible for when it happens. Your replacement fuse will be modestly priced but must match your existing fuse's size, type, and amperage. If your house has a fuse box, it's essential to have a flashlight and replacement fuses ready to go.
Follow the following steps for how to fix your blown fuse:
Identify where the outage happened
Homes move quickly once they go on the market. It’s common for a property to receive multiple offers on the first day it’s for sale. When you start shopping for a home, be ready to act as soon as you see a home you like. You can assume that your fellow buyers are acting quickly! Your realtor can help you navigate the first steps towards placing a competitive bid.
Reset the circuit breaker, if your home has one
As a first-time homebuyer, the entire process will be full of new experiences. Feel free to
speak up at any time, whenever you have a question or find something that seems
unexpected. Your first home represents long-term legal and financial arrangements. It’s
important to take care of all your hesitations before finalizing your purchase. Whether
you have questions about the physical state of the home, the financial details of your
mortgage, or the fine print on your closing contract, speak up! A good realtor will
encourage questions and be happy to help you find answers.
Find your fuse box and be aware of safety hazards
Buying a home is an exciting time, and you might find that people love to offer advice on your new house. You’ll hear opinions on everything from location to style, the number of bedrooms to price, school districts to tax zones. While most advice comes with good intentions, remember who is buying this home. You’ll be responsible for the mortgage, the taxes, and the physical upkeep of your new house. Your opinion is most important! Accept advice with a grain of salt and make the decisions that are best for you.
Replace the blown fuse
The most prevalent reason for a fuse to blow is when the circuit becomes overloaded. You may cause your circuit breaker to trip or a fuse to blow when you have too many devices plugged in at one time. The hairdryer, vacuum, and microwave are common appliances that can suddenly use a high energy amount. Consider unplugging other devices before you plug in these items.
You may have also previously replaced your fuse with one with the wrong amperage. Fuses that do not fit your fuse box are a fire hazard and are likely to blow again.
One of the more grave reasons for a blown fuse is if your electrical circuit is damaged. Be very careful if you think you may have an electrical circuit issue on your hands, and be sure to call a professional.
How a home warranty can help
You may not know that you can receive coverage against mechanical destruction or damage to your home's electrical system. It's one of the many benefits of a home warranty.
When you have a home warranty, you can file a claim if your electrical system breaks down, and your provider will cover the costs to repair or replace the system.
Home Warranty One covers many components of a home's electrical system, including wiring, switches, service panels, sub-panels, breakers, outlets, junction boxes, and ground fault interrupters.
Contact us today to find out more about our home warranty services-- don't be left in the dark.
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