8 Common Electrical Repairs in Commercial Buildings
Flickering white lights, malfunctioning power systems or a thermostat that refuses to regulate the temperature can turn even any commercial building into a chamber of horrors. Commercial buildings often accommodate hundreds of employees and visitors, and even a small spark in the electrical wiring can result in severe consequences. Even without accidents, electrical problems can render a commercial property unfit for use.
As a building manager or property owner, you don’t have to be an electrician to know when something is off in your building. You also don’t require a toolbox, just vigilance. Simply paying attention to complaints from tenants and visitors can help.
Most electrical problems come with warning signs, and there are companies like Oaktree Electrical that will help you fix them in time. Regular maintenance will keep the building’s electrical systems in proper shape and avoid life-threatening accidents or even security concerns.
Let’s look at some common electrical issues and their solutions that you must know as a commercial building manager or property owner. Let’s begin.
1. Flickering Lights Shouldn’t be Ignored
You’ve probably brushed it off once or twice, a light flickering in a hallway that isn’t used often or even above a workstation. Sometimes it’s just a bulb that needs replacing. However, if you keep noticing bulbs breaking down in multiple places, you should get it checked. Flickering of lights could be a sign of loose wiring or system overload. If left unchecked, you might lose power in the entire room.
2. Outlets That Just Quit on You
A power outlet that doesn’t work properly might not seem like an urgent issue. You will just use the next one and go on with your work. However, over time, these silent fails start adding up. A growing number of dead sockets is often a sign of wiring fatigue, tripped breakers, or even deeper overload issues.
3. Circuit Breakers That Keep Breaking Down
You reset the circuit breaker, only for it to trip again. You might consider replacing it or searching for a quick fix, but repeated tripping is a sign that something’s wrong in the electrical circuit. Circuit breakers are designed to cut power when there’s a fault, and if this issue recurs, it could be linked to a faulty appliance, wiring problem, or an overloaded panel. The good news is that these problems are usually easy to fix when identified early.
4. You Can Smell the Trouble
If you can smell something burning around outlets or behind the walls, it may point to failing wires or overheating. This issue is not always obvious and can be easily overlooked, but it is also dangerous. Ignoring it may result in damaged equipment or worse. Most major fires in commercial buildings occur because someone dismissed the strange smell of something burning. It’s always best to be alert and act quickly in such situations.
5. Surges and Strange Shutdowns
A sudden surge won’t just force your system to reboot, but can also fry your devices. Devices include computers, routers, and printers. Since most businesses depend heavily on these systems, they’re especially vulnerable. While occasional surges may originate from the power company, regular surges are often a sign of internal issues like poor grounding, faulty wiring, or outdated electrical panels within the building.
6. Panels That Are Out of Their Depth
Outdated electrical panels often struggle to distribute power evenly across modern commercial setups. You might notice intermittent outages, strange humming sounds, or systems that underperform. In some cases, the fix is as simple as upgrading a panel. It can open up your building’s capacity without needing a full rewire.
7. Wiring That’s Past Its Prime
Wires naturally degrade over time, quietly and gradually, until electrical issues suddenly begin to surface. This wear and tear can be caused by age, repeated patchwork repairs, rodent damage, or exposure to humidity. Faulty wiring remains one of the leading causes of commercial electrical fires. Regular inspections and timely repairs can prevent major incidents and save your business thousands of pounds in potential damage.
8. Using Outdated Electrical Appliances
Whether it’s using incandescent bulbs or legacy computers, electrical gadgets need to be upgraded. LED bulbs are eco-friendly and help save hundreds of pounds in energy bills. The legacy appliances need to be replaced, whether it’s a thermostat or an alarm system. Each new generation of electrical equipment has better capabilities and improved functionality, helping you serve your clients better.
Summing It Up
Minor electrical problems are often ignored until they turn into something major, leading to significant financial damage and security and safety threats. If you catch these problems early, it could mean fewer operational interruptions and lower repair costs.
You don’t have to know how to fix it yourself. You just need to have the right partners to call when something goes wrong. When you are vigilant in resolving these minor issues in your building, you will have a more functional commercial building under your care.