5 Common Signs of Faulty Electrical Wiring (and what to do next)

Did you know that electrical failures or malfunctions cause more than 51,000 home fires every year in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association?  Many of these fires start silently — behind walls, near outlets, or inside outdated breaker boxes — long before anyone realizes something’s wrong.

At Integra Electrical, we’ve spent over 20 years helping homeowners across the Des Moines area protect their homes and families from hidden electrical dangers. Preventing electrical fires isn’t just a part of what we do — it’s the heart of our mission.

In this article, we’ll walk you through five clear warning signs that your home’s wiring may be failing — and what to do next if you spot any of them.
Here are the five signs to watch for:

1.  Flickering or dimming lights
2. Frequent circuit breaker trips
3. Burning smell coming from outlets or switches
4. Buzzing or crackling sounds from walls or outlets
5. Outlets or switches that are hot or sparking
   

1. Are Your Lights Flickering? 

If you’ve noticed your lights flickering or dimming — especially when you turn on an appliance or use multiple devices — it could be more than just a nuisance. Flickering lights are often an early sign of an overloaded circuit or loose electrical connections, both of which can lead to overheating. Left unchecked, this kind of heat buildup can spark a fire behind your walls.

What you can check at home:

• Is it just one light fixture? Try tightening the bulb or replacing it. If the flickering stops, the issue may be isolated.
  
• Do lights flicker when appliances start? That could point to a larger load issue or an outdated electrical panel.
  
• Are multiple lights flickering throughout the house? This may indicate a loose or corroded connection in your wiring — a serious issue that should be inspected by a licensed electrician.
  

If the flickering persists or happens in more than one area, don’t ignore it. It’s often one of the first red flags that your home’s electrical system needs attention.

2. Does Your Circuit Breaker Keep Tripping?

 A circuit breaker that trips occasionally is doing its job — protecting your home from electrical overload. But if it’s happening frequently, it’s a warning sign that something isn’t right behind the scenes. This could mean your home’s wiring is outdated, overworked, or even deteriorating.

In some cases, frequent tripping may point to faulty wiring, loose connections, or a circuit that simply can’t handle your home’s electrical demands, especially if you’ve recently added more devices, appliances, or technology.

What you can check at home:

• Notice when the breaker trips. Does it happen when a space heater, microwave, or hair dryer is used? These appliances draw a lot of power and might be overloading the circuit.
• Check the age of your panel. Older electrical panels (especially those 30+ years old) may not be built to handle modern energy usage.
  
• Unplug devices on that circuit. Try unplugging a few items and reset the breaker. If it holds, you may simply be overloading it — but recurring trips could still indicate deeper wiring issues.
  

If the breaker continues to trip after lightning the load, it's time to have a professional electrician perform a safety evaluation. Frequent tripping is never something to ignore — it's the system’s way of telling you something’s wrong.

3. Is there a burning smell coming from your outlets or switches?

If you notice an odd or burning smell near an outlet, light switch, or appliance, stop and pay attention. A “fishy” or plastic-like odor is often a sign that something is overheating or even melting behind the walls. This is one of the most serious signs of electrical failure and could mean the insulation around your wires is breaking down.

Over time, faulty connections, damaged wiring, or overloaded circuits can generate enough heat to melt components and start an electrical fire.

What you can check at home:

• Unplug anything in the outlet immediately. Don’t use it again until it’s been inspected.
• Check the outlet cover or switch plate. Is it warm, discolored, or warped? That's a red flag for overheating.
• Follow your nose.  If the smell lingers even after unplugging everything, or if it returns when you use that outlet again, you may have a deeper wiring issue.
  

In any case, an odd smell is not something to “wait and see.” Call a licensed electrician right away to inspect the affected area before more damage occurs.

3. Is your outlet buzzing or making crackling sounds?

Electricity should be silent. If you're hearing buzzing, crackling, or humming sounds coming from an outlet, light switch, or even your breaker box, it’s not normal — and it could point to damaged or deteriorating wiring behind the walls.

These sounds often indicate loose connections, arcing (when electricity jumps a gap between conductors), or frayed wires. Over time, these problems can generate intense heat and pose a serious fire risk.

What you can check at home:

• Pinpoint where the noise is coming from. Is it an outlet, light switch, or electrical panel? Don’t touch it — just identify it.
• Check if it’s tied to a specific device or appliance. Unplug it and listen again. If the noise stops, that device could be the issue, or it may have exposed an underlying problem with the circuit.
• Turn off the breaker if you're unsure. If you hear buzzing from your panel or can’t identify the source, it’s safest to turn off the power to that area and call a professional.
  

Buzzing or crackling is your electrical system asking for help. The longer it goes unaddressed, the higher the risk of damage — or worse.

5. Are your outlets or switches hot or sparking?

If an outlet or switch feels warm to the touch or worse — you see a spark when plugging something in — it’s a major red flag. Heat and sparking are signs that the electrical current isn’t flowing safely, and the wiring behind that outlet or switch may be damaged, loose, or overloaded.

In older homes, especially, worn-out wiring or outdated components can no longer handle modern electrical loads. That heat can eventually ignite insulation or nearby materials.

What you can check at home:

• Feel the outlet or switch plate (carefully). A slight warmth might be normal for dimmer switches, but any noticeable heat from a standard switch or outlet is not.
  
• Look for scorch marks or discoloration. These are visual cues that heat damage is already occurring.
• Never ignore a spark. If you see or hear a spark when plugging something in, unplug it immediately and stop using that outlet.

This is one of the clearest signs that something needs to be addressed fast. If an outlet or switch is hot or sparking, it’s time to call a licensed electrician before it escalates into a fire hazard.

What to do if you notice these signs

If you’ve noticed any of these signs in your home, don’t ignore them. Even small issues can point to serious wiring problems that put your safety at risk.

The best next step is to have an electrician come perform a safety evaluation. Decide whether an Independent Electrician or an Electrical Company is right for your home to ensure your home stays safe and your electrical system runs smoothly.