4 Electrical Box Problems

Problems with an electrical box or junction box can cause a whole host of problems in your home's electrical system. Therefore, it is important that you be able to identify common problems in electrical boxes and correct the them before they cause more damage or even a fire. Generally speaking, most problems with electrical boxes are easily corrected, and you will probably be able to do many of the repairs yourself. With that in mind, this article will address some of the most common problems and how to avoid them.

Crowded Junction Boxes

If you live in an older home, it is possible that over the years, new outlets, switches and fixtures have been added in the home. When this happens, it is not uncommon for people that install new electrical components to simply tie into an existing electrical or junction box and create more connections. However, many people are not aware that overcrowding a junction box is a potentially very dangerous fire hazard.

When electrical current passes through wires, a small amount of heat is generated. However, in most cases the heat is negligible and will not cause too many problems. Nevertheless, when too many wires are inside an electrical box, there is not much, if any, air circulation to help cool the wiring. Therefore, the heat inside the junction box is amplified and creates a very real risk of overheating and causing an electrical fire. Occasionally, inspect the electrical boxes in your home and ensure that no more than two or three outlets, switches or fixtures are wired into the junction box.

Light Fixtures with No Junction Box

Light fixtures that are simply screwed into the ceiling or wall without a junction box or a real danger and fire threat. An electrical box not only helps you organize wire connections, it also helps to serve as a shield in case an arc or spark occurs. Without a junction box, arcs or sparks from the fixture are directly exposed to dry and flammable materials such as wood or drywall. So, if you have light fixtures that don't have an electrical box, remove them. Then, install a new electrical box and then reinstall the fixture.

Missing Covers

A very common problem associated with electrical boxes is missing cover plates. Sometimes, when work is performed inside a junction box, people forget to replace the cover plate. If your home has small rodents or critters, they may get inside the electrical box and chew on the wiring. Although this will most certainly kill the animal, it will also create frayed wiring which could lead to an electrical fire. Check all of the electrical boxes in your home to make sure that they have cover plates.

Electrical Tape Used in Electrical Boxes

Another very common mistake people make when working inside electrical boxes is using electrical tape to insulate and secure wiring connections. Although electrical tape is fine as a temporary solution, it should never be left on for very long. Over time, electrical tape can deteriorate and expose bare wiring which can result in a potential fire hazard. If the electrical boxes in your home use electrical tape to secure the wire connections, remove the tape and replace it with high-quality electrical wire caps.