What Are The Most Common Reasons for Home Rewiring?

Poor quality or outdated house wiring is a common cause of home fires today, especially in older homes.

Experienced electricians recommend replacing home wiring under certain conditions to prevent safety hazards like fires and electrical shocks.

Homeowners wondering whether they need rewiring services from a licensed electrician should read on to learn the most common reasons why rewiring is recommended.

Replacing old wiring with new is an important investment in home safety that can prevent future fires, injuries, and property damage.

1. Outdated Wiring In Older Homes

Electricians frequently find that the house wiring in many older homes is substandard and does not meet current safety codes.

This is especially common in houses built in the 1930s and earlier where old knob-and-tube home wiring may still be intact, presenting a definite fire risk.

This fuse and wiring setup was not designed to handle the electrical draw of modern appliances nor is it resistant to power surges.

Additionally, electricians recommend that houses built as recently as 40 years ago be inspected for the type of wiring and electrical service installed, with rewiring a consideration if wiring does not adhere to current safety standards.

2. Under-Powered Electrical Service

Older home wiring, whether due to the materials used or the way it is set up, frequently does not provide the degree of electrical service that modern homes require.

As a result, the wiring in older houses is frequently under-powered with 150-amp service.

Upgrading the wiring in the home to 200-amp service will give homeowners the ability to run more appliances and fixtures without maxing out the electrical system and overloading circuits or blowing fuses.

3. Safety Issues with Aluminum Wiring

Homes built with lower-cost aluminum house wiring run a higher risk of experiencing fires due to how aluminum reacts when carrying an electrical current.

In comparison to more favorable copper wiring, aluminum expands and contracts more, creating heat and also loosening connections, symptoms that can result in a dangerous electrical fire.

Experienced electricians strongly recommend that homeowners with aluminum wiring have their homes re-wired with copper wiring to prevent this issue.

4. Improved Surge Protection

Outdated home wiring is many times unable to withstand power surges, which can cause damage to appliances and electrical wiring as well as start electrical fires.

Updating home wiring to service that includes grounding wires is the best recommendation.

Electricians recommend that any homeowner who still has outlets that only accept two prongs rather than three that allow for the grounding prong, update their wiring to prevent dangerous power surges and the damage they can cause.

5. Improved Overall Safety and Fire Protection

Old, outdated electrical wiring is one home component that can cause many safety issues when construction and electrical technology improve yet the wiring does not.

Electricians find that in houses with outdated electrical service or poor quality materials, safety risks including fire risks decline considerably when rewired.

Electricians Advise Rewiring Older Homes

The demands on today’s home electrical wiring are much greater than it ever was in the past.

Noting this, experienced electricians recommend that owners of older houses or those built using less expensive electrical components arrange for a home inspection to gauge whether rewiring is recommended.

Updating house wiring can be a considerable investment; however, it is one that will keep a home safe while avoiding preventable and damaging electrical shorts and fires.

Discuss home rewiring with a licensed electrician to learn more today!

Looking at Home Wiring In College Station Texas? 

Contact the Skilled Electricians at Gilmore Electric Express!

Call 979-775-4448 To Set Up An Electrical Inspection Today!