concern about wiring in my house..?

Question

ok, we bought a house that is fairly old. i heard my parents talking about it having old wiring, its not the same wire you put in a house now. anyway, sometimes when im here on the comp i hear a loud click. it loud enough to make me jump haha. there is usually 2 about 1 min apart. and the other day all of a sudden a breaker went and the lights turned off but i still had power to use comp...we couldnt figure it out because nothing was running. should i be paranoid??

understandable but what about the 2 loud pops or clicks a min apart?? sounds like somethings getting zapped haha.

Answer 1

you don't say how old your house/wiring is, but i have lived in a few old houses with the old knob and tube wiring and it is fine as long as you don't overload it. try to track down the source of the noises and you may find a loose wire or connection. i doubt that your wiring is too old since the house has been upgraded to circuit breakers. but in a way that is a good thing since you can't overload a circuit by putting in a larger amp fuse. when you check your outlets and switches for the loose wire also look to see if the wires are attached by the screws on the sides of the outlet or switch. if they are plugged into the push holes in the back of the switch/outlet, consider changing to the screw mounts. also, circuit breakers can and do wear out. good luck, hope this helps.

Answer 2

The circuit your computer is plugged into is different from the lighting circuit in in most cases.

If the breaker for a lighting circuit trips, either there is a short, or the circuit is overloaded. It is hard to overload a circuit with just light bulbs. You could trip that breaker and see what else goes off. Typically lighting circuits are rated at 15 amps. If you attach a heavier load, the breaker should trip.

Answer 3

Thermostats....(?)

I liked the ans. so far, because we are CONCERNED about SAFETY! [not pts.]

Think, have you noticed the "noises" at other times or is the time you are USING your computer the only time it's QUITE enough to hear? The reason
I'm wanting you to think of other solutions is MANY THINGS MAY BE AUTOMATIC and 1 may affect this circuit [Frig and Water heater, but they're usually separate -- space heater, motion sensor lights, etc etc]

ALSO: Wall plugs are OFTEN separated with one of the two receptacles
running thru a LIGHT SWITCH! They're this way for lamps, etc. You're PC
and COPIER, etc. may be in such a plug!!!

Whatever it is PLEASE take the time to follow the advice(s) to CHECK NOW!

TURN OFF CIRCUITS BEFORE WORKING ON HOT WIRES!!!

CHECK YOUR HEATER and it's FAN -- DUST SHORTS [thermostat]

Answer 4

Yes you should.

It sounds like that may have been a dead short when two wires that may have bare spots touched & shorted out.

Some thing may have move causing a wire to touch a metal ground.

There may be a bare spot in a wire & when you use that line it may get warm & as it heats up it may move enough to short out.

Get you wiring checked out soon.