Circuit breakers are essential safety switches for your home's electrical system. Every circuit breaker has an amperage limit, and when that limit is reached, the circuit will trip.

The most common reason is due to an overloaded circuit. The circuit trips to prevent an electrical fire and is an essential safety mechanism. The other reason is an electrical short--that is, when the insulation around the wires is damaged, an electrical short is likely to occur.

Yes, but this is a task that should be completed by a trained professional.

You should have an electrical inspection carried out if: you are purchasing a property that has been occupied; your property is more than 25 years old; if it has been over five years since your last inspection; or if you are concerned about how any of the equipment was installed.

Many people think that an electrician is only required if you are constructing a new home. That is not the case. DIY projects in the electrical realm can be both costly and dangerous. Not only is there a risk of electrocution, but there is also a risk than an improper repair may become a fire hazard down the road. Situations that require an electrician include, but are not limited to, situations where: fuses continually blow or breakers continually trip; GFCI outlets are not installed in kitchens and bathrooms; there is rust on your main service panel indicating water damage; lights dim when appliances are powered on; electrical switches or outlets feel warm or function improperly; adding additional outlets or fixtures; and turning 2-prong outlets into 3-prong ones. Again, the tasks above provide just a few instances in which a professional electrician is needed.

Fluorescent flicker can be caused by a burned out bulb, a bad starter or bad ballast. If the bulb has turned black at one or both ends, try replacing the bulb.

This indicates that either the battery is low on charge or there is something wrong with the electronics or smoke sensor chamber. If your smoke detector is over 10 years old, it is time to replace it.

Generally, utility companies will know when outages occur. But if you notice that your home is the only house on the block without power, call an electrician to come inspect the problem as it is likely isolated to your house only.

A GFI is an abbreviation for a ground fault interrupter. It is a specially designed outlet normally used in locations where moisture can accumulate--such as kitchens and bathrooms--to protect you from electrical shock. A GFI measures the resistance on the "positive" and "negative" loads connected to it, and if there is more resistance in either of the 2 loads, the GFI trips. The GFI has a built-in circuit breaker to reset once the problem has been resolved.

Frayed electrical cords are the primary cause of electrical fires during the holiday season. Inspect your lights each year for fraying, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive wear before putting them up. Do not link over three light strands together, unless the instructions indicate otherwise.

A dimmer is nothing more than a small transformer that causes the light bulbs to dim by decreasing the voltage applied to them. As the dimmer decreases the amount of voltage going to the light bulbs, excess heat is generated and radiates from the switch via the switch plate.