Older homes have an incredible amount of charm and nostalgia. While some of that charm stems from the old-world construction practices of ornate stonework and interesting woodworking, there are also negative aspects of living in a dated home, namely the electrical system. We bought our first older home a few years ago, and it has been interesting to see just how much of a problem the electrical system has been. We knew that we needed to update a large portion of the space, so we started going through and having sections replaced. This website is here to help other people to know when to work with electricians.
Just like all other systems in your home, your wiring can break down over time due to age, wear, or damage within your home – or a combination of all three factors. Being aware of the most common signs of wiring issues in your home can help you figure out when you should call a residential electrician to inspect and repair your electrical system.
Flickering or Dimmed Lights
One of the most obvious signs that your home's wiring is no longer functioning as intended is if you notice that there are lights throughout your home that flicker or dim throughout the day. This can happen sometimes when another nearby appliance turns on, but can also happen randomly with no change in the surrounding electrical system if the wiring is damaged enough. Flickering and dimming lights point to an electrical load that is too large for your current wiring, either because that wiring has become damaged and can no longer handle what it used to be able to, or because you have overloaded that circuit through multiple appliances and lights. While turning your lights and other appliances off can help reduce the incidence of this problem in the short term, rewiring is the proactive solution that will prevent your lights from sparking, burning out or otherwise experiencing additional problems.
Heat and Sound
Another fairly easy to spot indication that your electrical system is in need of some professional attention is if you can feel heat being thrown from any of our outlets or switches. Sometimes, this will also come with a humming or buzzing sound. This indicates that the wiring behind the plug or switch has become exposed, which carries the risk of sparking and causing an electrical fire. Avoid using the plug or switch until a professional electrician has had the chance to inspect and repair the wiring.
Tripped Circuit Breakers
The last indication that you should get in touch with an electrical contractor is if you find that the circuit breakers in your home's power box are continuously tripping. A single tripped breaker can occur normally due to a power surge or some other issue, but if you notice that multiple breakers are tripping, or if a single breaker keeps on tripping every few days, the issue could lie with your wiring. Overloaded wiring, which can cause sparks and electrical fires, can also cause your circuit breakers to trip, which is why you should have this issue addressed as quickly as possible.