Rewiring Your Home: 7 Signs It’s Time for an Upgrade

Wondering if your home needs rewiring? Home wiring systems provide power to critical appliances, devices, and heating and cooling systems. Faulty or outdated wiring can pose safety risks and impact a system’s efficiency, so it’s essential to know when it’s time to rewire your home.

Rewiring a home increases its safety, efficiency, and value, giving homeowners peace of mind. This article highlights red flags that indicate it’s time to update or completely rewire your home’s electrical system.

1) Frequent Circuit Breaker Trips

The breaker automatically shuts off when your electrical system is overloaded to prevent potential damage. Circuit breaker trips indicate that more electrical current is flowing through a circuit than it is designed to carry. This may also indicate potential hazards of overheating or fire. Frequent circuit breaker trips are a sign that your home’s wiring can’t handle modern electrical demands and requires updates.

2) Flickering or Dimming Lights

If you regularly see flickering or dimming lights in your home, it means that there is loose or faulty wiring or overloaded circuits. Either way, this sign indicates that your home may have unsafe wiring or an unstable electrical supply. The first step is to replace the bulbs of any flickering or dimming lights to see if that solves the issue. If the flickering persists even after replacing the light bulbs, call an electrical professional to assess your home’s wiring system.

3) Outdated Electrical Panel

You should consider updating your electrical system if you have an outdated electrical panel, especially a fuse box. Older panels were designed for much lower electrical loads than modern-day needs. Outdated electrical panels often don’t have enough capacity for a home’s needs, leading to overheating, circuit breaker tripping, and fire hazards. It’s best to call an electrical expert to evaluate your electrical panel and recommend a newer solution.

4) Hot or Discolored Outlets & Switches

Hot or discolored outlets and switches indicate serious problems such as poor connections, short-circuiting, or overloading. These issues can lead to overheating and create a fire risk in your home. If you notice discolored outlets that are hot to the touch, work with a licensed electrical professional to have them inspected and replaced as soon as possible.

5) Too Few Outlets for Your Needs

If you’re always wishing there were more outlets in your home, it may be time to upgrade your electrical system. An outdated electrical layout often can’t handle modern appliances and devices safely. If you find yourself frequently using power strips and extension cords, your home is at an increased risk of circuit overload. Power strips and extension cords should not be used long-term. Hire an electrical professional to install more power outlets and assess your electrical system’s capacity.

6) Age of Your Home’s Wiring

If your home was built in the 1990s or even more recently, your wiring is most likely in pretty good shape. If your home was built in the 1970s or 1980s, it’s unlikely you will need a complete rewire, but an electrical professional can assess if the wiring is standard copper or aluminum. No matter the age of your home, having an inspection from a licensed and bonded electrician is always a smart choice for safety and peace of mind.

7) Increased Energy Bills

If you notice an increase in your energy bills, it may indicate faulty or inefficient wiring. Faulty or inefficient wiring leads to energy wastage, which increases your monthly bill. You may have faulty wiring if your electricity bills have been rising despite consistent usage. Work with an electrical pro to rewire your home for a more efficient power supply to avoid increased utility costs over time.

Find a Local Licensed & Bonded Electrical Professional Today

Any of these signs indicate it may be time to update your home’s electrical system or wiring. Schedule an electrical inspection with a licensed professional if you notice these red flags. Taking action now prevents bigger issues down the road.

PPNW’s electricians and contractors are equipped to handle anything from large-scale installation projects to routine maintenance. If you need reliable and safety-minded professionals, PPNW has you covered.

Find a contractor today.