Purchasing an existing home can be a lot cheaper than building your own. However, it’s important to realize older homes need routine upgrades so that they can meet your modern-day needs. One common upgrade that many older homes need is rewiring service. We’re going to describe some of the most common signs your home likely needs this in the near future.
1. Tripping Circuit Breakers
One of the most obvious signs that your home needs new wiring installed is your circuit breakers are constantly tripping. This happens due to overloading your existing wiring by demanding too much power. In most cases, older homes simply don’t have enough power coming in to supply your modern-day appliances and electronic demands. Upgrading to more amperage means running new wiring throughout your home to add new outlets.
2. Cloth Insulation
Homes that were built before the 1960s that still have their original electrical system likely have cloth-insulated wiring. The main problem with this type of wiring is the cloth soaks up moisture and gets super brittle. It will break off in chunks and leave exposed wiring underneath. That exposed wiring can create electrical arcing, cause electrocution, and have other negative effects on your home. It’s best to replace all your outdated cloth wiring with newer, much safer wiring.
3. Knob and Tube
Another outdated form of wiring is knob and tube. This was common in homes before the 1940s and uses a series of tube insulators. Just like with cloth insulation, knob and tube wiring will disintegrate over time and leave unsafe exposed bare wiring. Furthermore, this wiring simply can’t stand up to the power loads needed for running our modern-day appliances.
4. Aluminum
Aluminum wiring was briefly used during the copper shortage and has been shown to create multiple issues in home wiring setups. The problem with aluminum is it heats up tremendously as power flows through it. This causes the wire to physically expand, which can push apart electrical connections. This can lead to wiring failures and dangerous electrical arcing. If you have aluminum that joins together with copper, it creates even more of a hassle, as the expanded aluminum pushes the copper away and loosens the connection.
5. Two-Prong Outlets
One notable feature of many outdated electrical systems is a two prong outlet. These old ungrounded outlets are missing the third bottom prong that we use for modern-day electronics. It’s necessary to upgrade your electrical system if you have two prong outlets because they don’t have a ground wire that acts as a safety mechanism to reroute excess energy away from the outlet. Problems like electrocution and electrical fires are more common in ungrounded electrical systems.
6. Renovations
If you plan on doing a whole home renovation project, it’s likely you’ll be ripping up walls and flooring. This exposes all the wiring underneath and makes it super easy to replace it. Most contractors recommend rewiring your home whenever you’re doing home renovations, as it will provide an upgrade in functionality and the overall resale value of your home.
7. You Need More Electrical Circuits
One notable problem with many aging homes is a lack of adequate outlets. It was standard for homes built before the 1980s to only have one or two outlets in every room. While this was great when we didn’t have a lot of appliances or electronics, it simply doesn’t cut it for our modern-day needs.
While it’s completely possible to add new electrical circuits if you have room on your panel box, that’s typically not the case with older homes. There usually aren’t any remaining unused circuits, so an upgrade for the entire panel box and new wiring is necessary.
8. Over 30 Years Old
Just like every other system in your home, your electrical system has a finite lifespan of about 20 to 30 years. If your existing electrical system is over 30 years old, it’s time to consider an upgrade. Routinely upgrading your electrical system will ensure it’s up to modern-day code standards and is super safe for your family to use.
9. BX Cable
BX, also known as armored cable, was a common electrical option in the early 1930s to 50s. The neutral and hot wires are encased in a metal sheathing, known as a cable. There is no dedicated ground wire in this type of wiring. Rather, the metal sheathing is meant to act as the grounding source for the wiring. One of the biggest issues with BX wiring is the metal sheathing can be very unreliable and ground out when it comes into contact with things like loose screws in your wall. It will also corrode over time, rendering it unable to adequately ground out your wiring.
10. Unsafe DIY Wiring
Another key sign you may want to consider upgrading your wiring is there are multiple DIY issues. Unfortunately, trying to repair one’s electrical system was more common a few decades ago before there were standards for licensed electricians and building codes. This led to a lot of bad wiring that’s unsafe to have in your home.
Issues like missing junction boxes, wiring with insulation cut back too far, overloaded circuits, and even twisted wire nuts can all indicate safety issues with your electrical system. It’s typically best to have one of our professional electricians rewire your entire home to ensure optimal safety and functionality.
11. Rubber-Insulation
Rubber was a very prominent insulation material for wiring between the 1900s all the way up to the 1950s. While rubber is great when it’s first installed, it’s highly susceptible to drying out and cracking over time. As the rubber insulation disintegrates around your wiring, it will leave exposed wires that pose a high risk for electrical shock and fire hazards. It can be highly advantageous to replace all your outdated rubber-insulated wiring with modern wiring that uses safer thermoplastics.
12. Excessive Pinched Wiring
It’s typical for electricians to use electrical staples to hold your wiring in place as they run it throughout the various rooms of your home. While staples are fully safe when used correctly, they can be dangerous when installed incorrectly. Anytime a staple is driven in too far, it will pinch the wiring below it.
Over time, the staple can wear into the actual wires and cause a fire hazard. In addition, the compressed wires will heat up and can create an electrical fire of their own. If you have multiple instances of improper staple installation in your wiring, it’s best to have one of our knowledgeable electricians rewire your home so it’s done safely.
Benefits of Whole-Home Rewiring Service
Rewiring your entire home comes with peace of mind that your electrical system is completely safe. You’ll likely notice a drop in your homeowner’s insurance premium. New components will be more energy-efficient, means slightly lower utility bills. Your home will be up to modern-day code standards and you won’t experience issues like flickering lights.
Reliable Home Rewiring Service
Plumbing, Cooling & Electrical Nerds provides reliable home rewiring service for the South Naples, FL area. We can also assist with all your electrical repair, surge protection, panel upgrade, circuit breaker, and lighting needs. Call us today to book your next service consultation with one of our helpful electricians.
