Common Electrical Repairs and How a Home Warranty Can Help

When your refrigerator stops working or your fridge is not cooling, the urgency is immediate. Food can spoil quickly, repair costs are unpredictable, and you need a licensed technician fast. Many breakdowns stem from major components such as compressors, fan motors, or control boards, which are often expensive to fix. Common refrigerator repair costs typically range from $150 to $400, with larger failures costing much more.

Electrical issues are more than just frustrating. They are some of the most common and potentially costly home repairs homeowners face. A dead outlet, a breaker that keeps tripping, or lights that flicker for no apparent reason can quickly turn from a minor inconvenience into a safety hazard or an expensive service call. Because electrical work requires a licensed professional, repair costs can add up quickly.

That is why it is important to understand what is actually happening, and to know when to stop troubleshooting and call a professional. Many homeowners rely on a home warranty for protection. A plan from ARW Home can help cover common electrical repairs caused by normal wear and tear. It also makes it simple to file a claim, schedule service, and avoid paying hundreds of dollars out of pocket.

This guide walks you through the electrical issues homeowners encounter most often. You will learn how to spot warning signs early, which problems you can safely check on your own, and how a home warranty can help when something stops working.

If you're comparing coverage options, you can explore ARW Home’s electrical system protection plans at any time to see what fits your home and budget.

Why Electrical Issues Matter

Electrical problems rarely fix themselves — they usually get worse. According to the NFPA, electrical failures lead to more than 30,000 home fires every year in the U.S. Unlike plumbing or HVAC issues, electrical issues often start quietly: a breaker that feels warm, a light that flickers once or twice, or an outlet that suddenly stops working.

Hiring a licensed electrician is the safest option, but it isn’t cheap. Labor alone often runs $50–$130 per hour, and that’s before materials or panel work. A home warranty helps reduce those surprise costs and gives you a straightforward way to get a vetted electrician when something goes wrong.

For a clearer picture of what qualifies under your plan, you can review our guide on the types of repairs a home warranty covers.

Dead Outlets & Faulty Switches

Dead outlets and malfunctioning switches are among the most common electrical issues homeowners face. They often start as minor annoyances, such as a lamp that won’t turn on or a switch that feels “off,” but they can also indicate deeper wiring or connection problems behind the wall.

Common signs of a dead outlet or faulty switch 

• Outlet is completely dead or works intermittently: This could signal a loose wire, internal wear, or a failing receptacle.
• Warm or discolored faceplate: Heat or discoloration may indicate an overloaded circuit or deteriorating wiring, both of which are potential fire hazards.
• Buzzing noises: A low hum or buzz often means electricity is arcing due to loose connections or worn components.
• Visible sparks (stop using immediately): Sparking when plugging in devices usually points to a short circuit or damaged wiring and requires immediate professional attention.

Electrical Repairs: Quick Checks Homeowners Can Try Safely

Before calling an electrician, you can perform a few basic and safe troubleshooting steps:

1. Reset nearby Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets, commonly found in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, or laundry areas.
2. Flip the corresponding breaker fully off and back on.
3. Test a different appliance in the outlet.

If the outlet still does not work, feels warm, is discolored, or emits noise, stop troubleshooting and call a licensed electrician.

How a Home Warranty Can Help with Electrical Repairs

A home warranty may cover outlet or switch failures caused by normal wear and tear, not misuse or improper installation. Many ARW Home plans include coverage for:

• Interior receptacles
• Switch mechanism deterioration
• Internal wiring feeding the outlet or switch

Fixtures themselves are typically not covered, but the wiring and switching components usually are. This coverage can help reduce unexpected repair costs.

Circuit Breakers That Keep Tripping

A tripping breaker is your home’s way of protecting itself. When the electrical load becomes unsafe, the breaker automatically shuts off power to prevent overheating, wiring damage, and potential fire risks. While an occasional trip isn’t unusual, repeated tripping almost always signals an underlying electrical issue that needs attention.

Why Home Electrical Breakers Trip

• Circuit overload: Too many devices or large appliances running on the same circuit can exceed its capacity.
• Short circuit: Occurs when a hot wire touches a neutral wire, creating a sudden surge of current.
• Ground fault: Similar to a short circuit but occurs when a hot wire touches a ground wire or grounded surface.
• Aging or failing breaker: Breakers can wear out over time and trip even when the circuit isn’t overloaded.
• Faulty or deteriorating wiring: Old, damaged, or improperly modified wiring can heat up quickly and trigger the breaker to shut off as a safety measure.

When to Take Action for Home Circuit Breakers

• The breaker trips every time power is restored
• A burning smell from the panel
• Lights flicker or dim when appliances run
• Panel emits humming or crackling sounds

The Washington Post advises homeowners not to reset a breaker repeatedly without identifying the root cause. Doing so can worsen the underlying issue or allow a dangerous condition to continue unchecked.

If your circuit breaker won’t stop tripping, learn what to do next to keep your home safe and prevent further electrical issues.

How a Home Warranty Helps

When failure stems from normal breakdown, many plans include coverage for:

• Single- or double-pole breakers
• Interior wiring connected to the affected circuit
• Fuse replacements
• Internal panel components

If the failure qualifies, you simply pay your service fee. ARW handles technician dispatch and repairs. Coverage may also extend to electric water heater failures caused by normal wear and tear, giving homeowners protection against unexpected repair costs.

GFCI and AFCI Outlet Issues

GFCI and AFCI (Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter) outlets are designed to prevent electric shock and fire hazards. GFCIs protect against moisture-related shock risks in high-humidity areas, while AFCIs detect dangerous electrical arcing inside walls. Because these devices are safety-critical and can degrade over time, issues need to be diagnosed promptly.

Signs Your Electrical Outlet or Switch Is Not Working

• Outlet won’t reset: Pressing “Reset” does nothing, indicating an internal failure or a persistent fault in the circuit.
• Frequent trips: Repeated trips may indicate moisture issues, wiring faults downstream, or a failing GFCI device
• Partial power loss in a room or circuit: A single tripped GFCI can cut power to multiple outlets connected further down the line.
• “Test” button is unresponsive: If the “Test” button doesn’t trip the device, the safety mechanism is no longer functioning, a major hazard.

Why Your Electrical Outlet or Switch Stops Working

• Water/moisture intrusion
• Faults in downstream outlets
• Aging components (GFCIs last about 10 years)

What’s Covered Under Your Home Warranty

If a GFCI or AFCI outlet fails due to normal wear and tear, ARW Home may help cover repair or replacement as part of its electrical system protection. Coverage does not typically extend to:

• Devices damaged by flooding or water intrusion
• Improper installation by previous homeowners or contractors
• Overloading the outlet with high-demand appliances

When the failure is age-related or mechanical, a home warranty can significantly reduce repair costs and ensure a licensed electrician handles the replacement safely.

Lighting & Ceiling Fan Problems

Lighting and ceiling fans often share wiring with multiple fixtures and switches. When they malfunction, it can be a sign of deeper issues within the home’s electrical system, especially in older houses or areas with high electrical demand.

Common Problems With Home Lighting

• Flickering lights: Often caused by loose connections, fluctuating voltage, or worn-out switches.
• Buzzing noises: A hum near the switch or fixture could mean the wiring is loose or the fixture is drawing inconsistent current.
• Dimming when appliances turn on: Indicates an overloaded circuit or insufficient wiring capacity.
• Intermittent outages: Power cutting in and out suggests a failing connection or deteriorating wiring behind the walls.

Why You Should Not Ignore Home Lighting Issues

Persistent lighting problems can be early indicators of wiring breakdown, overloaded circuits, or poor connections, all potential fire hazards if not diagnosed promptly.

Common Ceiling Fan Problems Homeowners See

• Humming: Often points to a bad motor or capacitor struggling to start.
• Wobbling: Imbalanced blades or loose mounting hardware can cause wobbling, but wiring or motor issues may also contribute.
• Blades stopping suddenly: Sudden stoppage can signal motor failure, capacitor failure, or an internal wiring issue.

What’s Covered Under Your Home Warranty

Under ARW Home’s electrical system coverage, the following are typically eligible when they fail from normal wear and tear:

• Interior wiring supporting the lighting or fan
• Switches controlling the fixture
• Electrical components related to power delivery

Understand that fixtures themselves (light fixtures, ceiling fans, chandeliers) are not covered under most home warranty plans. However, if the issue stems from the wiring or switches that feed those fixtures, your home warranty may help reduce repair costs and connect you with a licensed electrician for safe diagnosis.

Wiring Deterioration in Older Homes

Older homes often have electrical systems that weren’t designed for today’s power demands. Over time, wiring can degrade due to age, environmental factors, and past homeowners’ DIY repairs, all of which increase the risk of failures and fire hazards. Electrical deterioration may start subtly, but the warning signs can quickly escalate if ignored.

Common Reasons Home Wiring Fails

Older wiring can break down over time due to age, environmental factors, or heavy electrical loads. Understanding why wiring fails helps homeowners spot potential hazards before they turn into costly repairs or safety issues. Common causes include brittle insulation, rodent damage, overloaded circuits, and outdated aluminum wiring.

• Aging insulation: The protective coating around wires becomes brittle with age, making the wire more prone to cracking, arcing, and overheating.
• Rodent damage: Mice, squirrels, and other pests often chew insulation in attics or crawlspaces, exposing bare wires and creating dangerous short circuits.
• Aluminum wiring concerns: Homes built in the 1960s and 1970s sometimes used aluminum wiring, which expands and contracts more than copper. This movement can loosen connections and increase fire risk.
• Overloaded circuits: Older wiring may not be sized for modern appliances. Running space heaters, microwaves, or hair dryers on outdated circuits can cause overheating and repeated breaker trips.
• Heat-related deterioration: Decades of heat cycles from current flow cause wires and connections to weaken, especially in attics, basements, or warm utility spaces.

Warning Signs of Failing or Deteriorating Wiring

Wiring problems often start subtly but can quickly become serious if ignored. Recognizing the early warning signs allows you to take action before a small issue becomes a fire hazard. Look for frequent power outages, burn marks on outlets or switches, unusual smells, panel warmth, or whole-home dimming when appliances are in use.

• Frequent outages: Repeated power loss in the same area can indicate loose connections or damaged wiring behind the walls.
• Burn marks on outlets or switches: Discoloration or scorching suggests overheating or electrical arcing, a serious fire hazard.
• Burning or hot smells: A warm or “electrical” odor coming from outlets, switches, or the panel is a sign that wiring insulation may be breaking down.
• Panel warmth or buzzing: A breaker box that feels hot to the touch or emits a humming sound may have failing breakers or compromised connections.
• Whole-home dimming: Lights dimming throughout the house when appliances run can signal wiring degradation or an overstressed circuit.

How a Home Warranty Helps with Wiring Issues

ARW Home can help cover interior wiring failures caused by normal wear and tear. This coverage provides financial relief when wiring components break down naturally over time. It also gives homeowners peace of mind, knowing a licensed electrician can handle repairs safely and efficiently. However, coverage typically does not include:

• Code upgrades: Bringing outdated wiring up to modern electrical code standards.
• Pre-existing issues: Problems present before your plan's start date.
• Overload damage: Failures caused by plugging too many appliances into one circuit or misuse.
• Low-voltage systems: Such as doorbells, alarm wiring, speaker systems, or internet cabling.
• Renovation-related wiring faults: Issues caused by remodeling, contractor mistakes, or DIY electrical work.

To get a deeper look at how electrical panel repairs and wiring failures are handled under warranty, explore Does a Home Warranty Cover Electrical Panels and Wiring?

How ARW Home Handles Electrical Repairs

Here’s how the home warranty repair process works when you file a claim:

1. Submit a claim online or by phone. You’ll provide basic details about the issue — what happened, when it started, and which part of your system is affected.
2. Pay your plan’s service fee, which covers dispatching and diagnosis.
3. A licensed electrician is dispatched to your home: ARW works with vetted technicians, so you don’t need to search for an electrician or compare availability.
4. Diagnosis is completed: The technician determines whether the failure stems from normal wear and tear (covered) or from improper installation, misuse, or pre-existing conditions (not covered).
5. Covered repairs or replacements are completed: Eligible parts and labor are handled under the plan’s coverage limits, often saving hundreds in unexpected costs.

Repairs aren't covered when caused by prior installation errors, remodelling or drilling damage, breaker overload from misuse, water damage, or known conditions that began before your policy began.

This ensures that repairs are based on genuine functional failures, not preventable damage or outdated installations. Learn more about home warranty add-on coverage, as well.

FAQs About Electrical Repairs and Warranty Coverage

Why isn’t my electrical outlet working?

It could be a tripped breaker, a tripped GFCI, an internal wiring failure, or a worn receptacle. A warranty can help if the issue is due to normal wear.

Why does my circuit breaker keep tripping?

Often due to circuit overload, a short, or a failing breaker. Don’t keep resetting it; instead, file a claim or call a pro.

Are flickering lights dangerous?

They can be. Flickering may indicate loose wiring or circuit overload, which can lead to fire hazards.

Does ARW Home cover electrical panels and wiring?

Coverage varies by plan, but many include interior wiring, breakers, fuses, and switches.

How long does it take ARW to send an electrician?

In most cases, a technician is dispatched within 24 to 48 hours after the claim is approved, depending on availability in your area.