If your home is more than 40 years old, it may be time to take a close look at the electrical wiring – especially if you plan on selling the home in the near future. Just because the electrical wiring appears adequate in your home, does not mean hazards do not exist. An assessment by an experienced electrician can help reveal any issues before they cause major – possibly life-threatening – damage.
If a new electrical wiring system is needed, making this upgrade will help increase the value of your home. Rewiring can be a big job and one that requires patience, so here are further reasons why it’s worth the investment.
Safety:
Faulty wiring is the leading cause of residential fires and the older your house is, the greater chance that the wiring may be outdated or unsafe. Wire insulation can deteriorate over time, so periodic checks can help make sure there are no developing problems. Here are some warning signs that you need to take a close look at your electrical wiring.
- -Blown fuses or tripped breakers
- -Flickering or dimming lights
- -Tingling sensation when you touch an appliance
- -Persistent burning smell from a room or appliance
- -Warm or discolored outlets
- -Two-prong ungrounded outlets are present throughout the house
Aluminum Wiring:
Homes built in the 1960s and early 1970s were often wired with aluminum rather than copper. Aluminum wiring is now considered a safety hazard, as the connections can loosen over time, causing overheating and possible fires where appliances are plugged in. A professional inspection by an electrician can determine if your home’s wiring is unsafe.
More power needed:
Think back to the 1950s and 1960s. Times were simpler and there weren’t electrical gadgets everywhere that needed powering like computers, flat-screen televisions, air conditioners, and iPads. All of these require power, and that means that homes today use more amperage. Sixty amps was the standard for household power for decades, but today, houses often need at least 200 amps to meet the needs of their owners. In order to safely accommodate this load, homeowners need to upgrade their home’s electrical capacity. Particularly if you’re looking to sell your home, you want to make sure that the modern homeowner buying it from you can safely use the amperage they need.
