We’re often told to not overload our schedules, but what about our home’s electrical system? Turns out it is not a good idea, since doing so can cause damage and put your family at risk.

An overload simply means that you have too many things running on one or more electrical circuits or pathways in your home and there is more demand than supply. When this happens, it can cause a minor inconvenience like damage to an appliance or a major one like a power outage or a fire.

To prevent overloading circuits, consider the following tips:

• Although tempting, don’t plug too many things in by using extension cords, power strips and multi-outlet converters. Overdoing it can overload and overheat a circuit.
• Be on the lookout for loose connections or damaged or corroded wires, which can also cause an overload or fire.
• If you continually upgrade your home with more lighting, appliances, and electronics, your home’s circuits may not be able to handle the increased load.
• Do not plug in multiple devices or appliances into an outlet at the same time, exceeding the outlet’s capacity. Do not use extension cords with major appliances.

Consult an electrician if you notice the following:

• Warm or discolored outlets or outlet cover plates
• Flickering, dimming or blinking lights or any other strange lighting behavior
• Items in your home frequently cause a mild shock
• Other strange happenings like a burning odor that has no source or unusual sounds coming from outlets
• Fuses that blow or trip frequently

Do what you can to avoid overloading the circuits in your home. Although the majority of a home’s electrical system is out of sight, out of mind, don’t take overload symptoms lightly and consult an electrician with concerns.