What Could Cause Electricity to Go Out in Different Rooms at Different Times?

Older Homes With Fuse Boxes

• Older homes sometimes have antiquated wiring that is hooked into a fuse box instead of a breaker box. When the circuits in the home get overloaded, a fuse will blow. This will knock out the power only in certain rooms. The fuse will need to be replaced to restore the power. Older fuses with poor connections will sometimes fail off and on, causing the power to dip in only some rooms. Updating fuse boxes to breaker boxes is important for safety and economy. At a rate of up to $10 per fuse, fuses that blow frequently can be expensive.

Electrical Load Changing

• If you turn on an appliance in one room and notice that the lights flicker on and off in other parts of the house, this means your wiring needs to be updated. The appliance is pulling too much of a load from the system and causing other parts of the house's electrical system to fail. Common culprits with this problem are central air conditioners, portable heaters and older appliances that cycle on and off, such as refrigerators.

Wiring Matters

• Faulty wiring or wiring that has been chewed by rodents will also cause house lights and power to flicker on and off. This is caused by shorts in the electrical system. This is a very dangerous problem and must be addressed immediately. Fatal house fires are often caused by electrical shorts. Electrical fires can start in walls or attics and they can burn for hours before being detected.

When to Call in a Professional

• If your home's wiring has always been fine and you suddenly notice a change, contact a professional electrician immediately. If older appliances are causing a drain on your home's electrical system, replace them with newer models. If the problem continues, contact a professional. Never attempt to convert an old fuse box to a breaker box on your own, and never attempt to change your home's wiring. Specific codes that must be followed, and this is incredibly dangerous work that can result in severe injury or even death if done wrong.