You may purchase an older home because it has a certain charm that makes it unique from newer homes, but the downside to an older home is that the electrical system may not be up to date. An older electrical system could pose certain safety risks to you and your family. If your home is more than a few decades old, make sure you check for electrical hazards like the ones that we are going to talk about in this guide.
1. Outdated Wiring
Many older homes have wiring that is old and outdated, which means the wiring itself can be an unreliable way to have electricity travel in your home. Two types of wiring are common in older homes, and both tend to increase the risk of electrical fires in your living space.
In homes built before the 1950s, knob-and-tube wiring is common. This type of wiring lacks grounding, making it unsafe for use. Knob-and-tube wiring is also not designed to handle the kind of large power loads common with today’s electrical appliances and devices. Since these wires are so old, the insulation on the wires has commonly deteriorated over the years, making them even more dangerous.
If your home was built during the 1960s or 70s, then it could have aluminum wiring instead. Aluminum wiring expands and contracts with heat, and the connections within the system tend to loosen over time, causing it to overheat. This can then lead to a fire. One of the best solutions for outdated wiring is to update your electrical system with copper wiring that can withstand modern electric demands.
2. Overloaded Circuits
Today’s electronics and appliances require a massive electrical load, and older homes’ electrical circuits are just not designed to handle that. This can lead to overheating, and your circuit breakers might trip frequently. You may have other issues as well, including flickering or dimming lights when powerful appliances, like air conditioners or microwaves, run. Outlets might feel hot to the touch due to excess power, and some outlets or switches might produce a hot or burning smell when the overloaded circuit starts overheating. These are all warning signs you should heed.
One of our electricians can install one or more additional circuits in your home to prevent these issues. You can also rearrange your appliances to ensure that the most power-hungry appliances are not all on the same circuit.
3. Inadequate Grounding
Proper grounding is critical to ensure that you and your family are safe from electrical shock when using an outlet in your home. Older systems may not have these safety protections because, at the time of installation, grounding was not considered to be as important as it is today. In addition to electrical shock, lacking proper grounding in your home also leaves your appliances and electronics vulnerable to damage during a power surge or a lightning strike.
Older outlets have two prongs instead of three, so they lack the grounding aspect that the third prong provides. That said, one of the best ways to protect your home from electrical hazards is to upgrade these outlets so that they all offer proper grounding in your home.
4. Lack of GFCI Outlets
GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters, outlets are a specific type of outlet typically found in any area that is near water. You are most likely to find GFCI outlets bathrooms, kitchens, wet bars, and basements, but they were not a common safety mechanism often used in the past. Homes that are older than 20 years or so often do not have GFCI outlets in them.
These outlets are very recognizable. They have a test and a reset button between two plugs in the outlet. This will protect your family from electrical shock via an automatic shutoff that enables when devices come in contact with water. If you do not have GFCI outlets in places where there is water in your home, then having a professional install them could help keep your family safe from electric shock or electrocution.
5. Insufficent Capacity
Most older homes have far fewer electrical outlets than newer ones that you see today. This is because we use more appliances that require more electricity. Having fewer outlets in your living space means that there is more of a need to use extension cords or power strips on a single outlet to accommodate multiple devices in the same area. It may be inconvenient to plug large appliances in when you need to use them, but it is safer than creating a circuit overload because you are using multiple power strips in a single outlet.
If you don’t have enough outlets in your home for all the appliances that you need to use daily, then contact a professional from our team. We can sit down with you and come up with a strategic solution for adding more outlets to your living space.
6. Outdated Electrical Panels
In addition to having limited outlets, you may find that your electrical panel is out of date and not able to keep up with your family’s electric demands. The electrical panel divides the electricity for your entire home into different circuits so that each section of the home has the electricity it needs without overloading the system. Older panels handle a much lower amperage rating, so it may be insufficient when considering the standards that most families need today.
Older electric panels also lack safety features that protect a home against other electrical hazards, such as shock, electrocution and electrical fires. Overheating can be a major issue with the electrical panels of older homes. Without adequate protection for these overloads, overheating can increase the risk of an electrical fire. To address this issue, an electrician from our team can update your electrical panels with a newer model that has a better capacity and higher safety standards for your home.
Contact a Reliable Electrician for Upgrades
Making sure that the electrical system in your home is safe for you and your family is our number one priority. If you live in an older home with an outdated electrical system, then contact someone from our team at Absolute Electric for an inspection. If we find anything that could pose a danger or be a threat to your family’s safety, we will make sure to prioritize those panel upgrades in your home. We can help you understand your options and find the ones that will maximize your safety and convenience.
We have over 18 years of experience in the Sterling area, and we know that your peace of mind in knowing that your family is safe is important. As a top electric company in Sterling, we know how to upgrade older properties to fit your needs. To set up an appointment to make sure your electrical system is up to par, contact us at Absolute Electric today!
