Did you know that 13% of residential and 19% of non-residential building fires are caused by electrical malfunctions? Older homes and buildings are susceptible to house fires because their wiring systems have not been updated. Fire can destroy lives and cause financial ruin.
If you live in an older home or building, keeping your wiring up to date can make a huge difference in your life. Rewiring a home can keep everyone who lives in it safe.
But how do you know if your home has faulty wiring? Keep reading to find out seven ways you can use to tell if you need to start rewiring a home and the benefits of doing so.
1. Electrical Overloads
Too much energy passing through your electrical wires causes an electrical overload. These wires heat up from too much energy passing through and will begin to melt. Once they start melting, the risk of fire increases because all of the energy you are using is passing through faulty wires.
One major sign of electrical overload is if your lights change when you use something on the same circuit. For example, if you turn on the microwave and the lights in your kitchen flicker or turn off, there is an electrical overload. Too much power is being taken from one circuit and it can’t supply everything it needs to at the same time.
Everyone loves that feeling of getting a new appliance for their home! However, before you have your appliance installed, you need to contact your residential electrician. Additional appliances can cause more stress on your circuits, which can lead to electrical overloads.
Your residential electrician can make sure your circuits can handle the extra requirements. They can also check your wiring to see if electrical overloads have been causing the wires to wear down.
They will also update the wiring and circuits to handle more power before you get that new appliance installed. This way, you won’t have to worry about the appliance overloading your system.
2. Burning Smells
Burning smells are never a good thing. Nearly 500 people every year die from electrical fires and they can cause billions of dollars in property damage.
There are a few ways faulty wiring can cause burning smells. The wire jacket melting causes a plastic burning smell. Damage and potential fire in the walls of your home will create a wood-burning smell.
The severity of the burning smell can impact who you should contact to handle the situation. If the smell doesn’t go away and is the primary smell in your home, you should get out and contact 911. It’s possible that a fire has already started and you could be in danger.
When the smell is subtle and almost difficult to sense, you should contact an electrician. They can come to your home and inspect your wiring. If they find a problem, they can fix it right away and avoid a fire.
3. Rusted Parts
A variety of metal components makes up your home’s electrical system. The metal parts of your system can rust and corrode over time due to both age and environmental factors.
Water damage is one major factor that can lead to rusting. When the damage gets worse, water can get into the interior of your circuit box.
Rusted circuit boxes will have an orangy build-up on the metal components. Corrosion can lead to the breakers not being able to flip when too much power is running across a circuit. If a breaker can’t flip, the risk of wires overheating and a fire starting increases.
Another key component of your electrical system is aluminum. The result of aluminum wearing down and becoming a white powder is aluminum oxide. The aluminum oxide will not conduct electricity and can also lead to wires overheating and fire risk.
4. Old Electrical Panel
The average American home is around 36 years old. Many homes still have the electrical panel from when the home was first built. Old electrical panels are one of the most obvious signs for rewiring a home.
Electrical panels usually only last between 25 to 40 years. If your home is older than that or around that age, your electrical panel needs updating.
Another sign that your electrical panel is old is that the breakers aren’t working properly. Breakers will start tripping more than normal. Or, they won’t reset at all.
5. Knob-and-Tube Wiring
Knob-and-tube wiring is wiring that runs through porcelain cylinders that prevent the wire from touching wood. This wiring does not have a ground wire built into its system, so it can’t handle as much energy as modern wiring that does have a ground wire. Rubber is also used to insulate knob-and-tube wiring, which can wear down easily.
Homes built before or around 1950 can have knob-and-tube wiring. This style of wiring can make it difficult to get housing insurance because these wires are at a higher risk of being faulty. Since these wires have white tubes at the ends of them, it’s easy to tell if you have this kind of wiring in your home.
The rubber insulator needs room to distribute heat. When adding insulation to your home, it can reduce the space knob-and-tube wiring has to work if not properly placed. This can lead to a fire breaking out.
Between overuse, repair difficulty, and high damage risks, knob-and-tube wiring is something that should be replaced no matter the condition.
6. Damaged Wiring and Outlets
If your wiring or outlets are damaged, you need to replace the wiring in your home.
One sign that you have damaged wiring is cracked or missing wire insulation. Wire insulators are made of a material that electrical currents cannot pass through. This material wraps around the wire and prevents the wire from connecting with other conductors or flammable materials.
Damaged wire insulation happens when you can see the metal wire inside the wrapping. Exposed wires can lead to electrocution of touched and fire if not repaired.
Damaged outlets are also a sign for rewiring a home. If the outlet is not working or plugs fall out of it easily, you need to get it replaced. When your outlet feels hot, it can lead to overheating and could be a sign of a larger wiring issue.
7. Using Multiple Power Strips
Using a power strip is not an immediate sign for rewiring a home. But, if you have to use multiple power strips throughout your home, it’s a sign that you don’t have enough electrical outlets to serve your needs. Older homes and buildings are the most likely places to not have enough outlets.
The danger of using multiple power strips in place of adding more outlets to your home is that it can overload your circuit. When the circuit overloads, it can cause damage to both the wiring and the machines hooked up to it.
If you notice that power strips have become a crutch in your home, it’s time to rewire it. The electrician will update your panel with a new model that will give you more flexibility.
Why Rewiring a Home is a Great Investment
After going through this list, there might be a few items on it that are causing concern. The cost for rewiring your home can range depending on how big your space is.
Usually, it can cost around $2.75 per square foot. You will also need to pay the electrician and any permits needed for rewiring to happen. How easy it is to access your wiring is another factor that can impact the cost.
No one wants to spend a lot of money on home repairs, but rewiring your home is one of the best investments you can make.
Saftey
The biggest reason to make this investment is safety. A common pattern in all of these signs is that they can lead to a fire if left untreated. Rewiring a home can protect you, your loved ones, your personal belongings, and the investment you made in your home.
Resell Value
If you’re looking to sell your home at any point, updating the wiring in your home can make the difference between making money and breaking even. When you rewire your home, make sure you have an inspector sign off on the work.
Not every potential buyer wants to make repairs, and the thought of electrical repairs can turn them away from your home. By already having your home rewired and certified, it increases the chance someone will buy it. You will also increase the value your home has because the wiring is up to date.
Save Money
Rewiring your home can also lower your energy costs. Modern wiring is more energy-efficient than older wiring.
Faulty wiring can also put a strain on your electrical system. This will cause your system to overwork itself and make delivering power difficult.
Making smaller repairs over time can also cost more money than rewiring a house. If small issues are continuing to reappear even after repairs, a complete rewire is the best financial course.
Start Rewiring Your Home Today
The safety and security of you and your loved ones are always at the front of your mind. Faulty wiring can put everything you love at risk.
Rewiring a home is a great investment when it comes to safety, security, and saving money in the long run. Contacting your local electrician as soon as possible for a home inspection is a great preventative measure.
If you liked this article and you want to learn more about how to improve your home, check out the rest of our blog.
