If you’re like most homeowners, you likely don’t think much about your home’s electrical wiring. It’s mostly hidden inside finished walls and works reliably year after year. However, it won’t last forever; eventually, you’ll need your home professionally rewired. The trick is to learn how to tell when rewiring is necessary. That way, you can maximize your investment and get the greatest possible use out of your home’s infrastructure. Here are 10 reasons you may need your home professionally rewired.
1. You Have Wiring That’s More Than 40 Years Old
Although the copper wires that likely make up the bulk of your home’s wiring may last up to 100 years, its sheathing cannot. On average, wire sheathing begins breaking down after approximately 50 years of service. So, if your home’s wiring is over 40 years old, it’s nearing the point that it needs replacement. Even if your electrical infrastructure still works well, older wiring can become a safety hazard if you let it.
2. You’ve Got Ungrounded Outlets
If your home has multiple ungrounded outlets, it’s a sign that at least part of its wiring needs replacement. You can spot an ungrounded outlet easily because they only accept two-prong plugs. Ungrounded outlets are a safety risk because they can’t route stray voltage away when faults occur. So, for example, if a device you plug in has a short circuit, it will overload the outlet and cause a fire. Also, an ungrounded outlet increases your risk of shock when plugging in and unplugging devices.
3. Your Home Still Uses Fuses
When one of your home’s circuits overloads, do you end up searching your utility drawer for a new fuse? If so, it’s a sign that your home’s wiring dates to the 1960s or earlier. After that, resettable circuit breakers became standard in most homes. It’s important to note that fuses aren’t inherently dangerous. However, they are inconvenient. Rewiring your home will include the installation of a new electrical panel and modern circuit breakers.
4. Your Home Has Aluminum Wiring
Copper is a fairly universal wiring material for all buildings these days. However, it’s also quite expensive. At various times in the past, copper shortages have made prices skyrocket. That happened in the 1960s and 1970s, prompting many builders to use aluminum wiring instead. Unfortunately, aluminum is nowhere near as durable as copper as a wiring material. The main reason is that it expands and contracts when heated, which happens under heavy electrical load. That can loosen wiring connections and lead to breakages. Both can cause fires if left unrepaired. If your home has aluminum wiring, your best option is professional home rewiring.
5. You Have Constantly Tripping Breakers
With each passing day, electricity use in the average home increases. Most homes now have multiple TVs, smartphones, tablets, and smart home devices. Those additions can render your home’s wiring obsolete in a hurry. When that happens, your first sign of trouble may be constantly tripping circuit breakers. At that point, electrical upgrades, including home rewiring, are the right solution.
6. You Notice Burning Smells
As a homeowner, it isn’t easy to judge the condition of the wires inside your home’s walls. Most of it is impossible to inspect. That forces you to rely on your other senses to spot signs of trouble. One sign that your home needs rewiring is burning smells. That can indicate that your wire sheathing is breaking down. Or worse, it may mean a bare wire is burning insulation inside your walls. Either situation is hazardous and calls for immediate inspection of your wiring. In many cases, rewiring your home will be the appropriate remedy.
7. You Have Extension Cords Everywhere
Another sign your home needs rewiring is an overreliance on extension cords. As your electrical needs change, you may struggle to find open outlets to meet them. As a result, you likely reach for an array of power strips and extension cords to run power to where you need it. Not only is that quite inconvenient, but it’s hazardous too. Loose cords pose tripping hazards, and it’s very easy to overload them, creating a fire risk. Having your home rewired is an opportunity to remake its electrical system to suit your needs. That can include relocating outlets and adding new ones.
8. Frequently Failing Light Bulbs
On average, an incandescent light bulb should last between 1,500 and 3,000 hours. A compact fluorescent or LED bulb should last up to 25,000 hours. If the bulbs in your home routinely burn out well before then, you may need your house rewired. One of the common reasons for shortened bulb lifespan is voltage fluctuations. They put extra stress on the bulb, causing early failure. Voltage fluctuations can happen due to loose wiring or overloaded circuits. Having your home rewired will solve those problems for you.
9. Scorched Outlets or Switches
The appearance of scorch marks on your home’s outlets or switches can indicate the need for professional rewiring. It typically happens due to failing electrical connections that are allowing arcing. An electrical arc is when electrical voltage jumps between conductors. In the process, it may burn flammable nearby objects. Arcing can result from a single failing outlet or switch. However, if it’s happening in multiple places, you have a larger problem. Having your home rewired will eliminate those issues all at once.
10. You’re Remodeling Your Home
Finally, a home remodel is another excellent reason you’d want your home rewired. If you’re making changes to the internal layout of your home, its electrical infrastructure will need changes, too. The same is true if you’re building an addition. Adding new circuits to your home’s existing electrical panel may be impossible. And even if you can, new rooms may make rebalancing your circuit loads necessary. At that point, the required work makes a complete rewire a smart move. You’ll be spending a significant sum anyway, so you should take the opportunity to replace your home’s wiring.
Professional Home Rewiring Services
Since 2013, Magic Electric, Plumbing, Heating + Air has offered expert electrical services to homeowners and business owners in Jerome, ID. Our team of expert electricians can handle everything from simple repairs to complete home rewiring. As a group, we have years of experience and training. We also offer comprehensive plumbing and HVAC services. We work hard to provide a customer-focused experience whenever you work with us. That way of doing things has made us one of the fastest-growing companies in Idaho.
We’re also Better Business Bureau accredited and maintain an A+ rating. That reflects our commitment to fair prices, quality workmanship, and exemplary customer service. We’re also an active community member, having donated over $40,000 to local causes to date. And if you need help paying for extensive work on your home, we offer financing on approved credit. So, if your home needs professional rewiring in Jerome, contact our team at Magic Electric, Plumbing, Heating + Air today!
