Building, Remodeling, and Doing it All Again

Did you know that many homes in America have faulty wiring and that most property owners are oblivious that rewiring or electrical repairs are needed? Faulty wiring is responsible for causing many tragic electrical fires, electrocution, and property damage. Routine electrical inspections are something that many homeowners do not realize they need to request. This can leave them vulnerable to future perils. There have been tragic cases that involved individuals renting homes unaware that the owners had not had inspections performed.

There are certain things that should alert homeowners to potentially bad wiring. However, some homes have exhibited these signs for a long time, and the owners seemingly get used to them and dismiss them as normal until tragedy strikes. The following points can be used as a guideline to identify wiring issues. 

Time Frame Since Last Rewiring

Some older homes have been rewired. However, the project may have occurred decades ago, which means that the wiring may be outdated or damaged. It is also possible that the project was done incorrectly. A residential electrician can inspect the wiring and determine its condition. They are also keen to identify outdated wiring. Some homes have wiring materials that are obsolete due to safety reasons. A troubling statistic is that there are still older homes that are inhabited and have never had a rewiring.

Outlet Issues

If a wiring issue is present, the outlets might have an abnormal appearance, produce sounds, or respond strangely when they are used. A common sign of a wiring issue is melted or warped outlets. They may have black soot around the edges suggesting a significant risk of an electrical fire. Outlets may also appear to emit buzzing noises if there is an electrical wiring issue. Individuals may also notice sparks coming from outlets when they plug and unplug objects. This is usually the result of loose wiring, which can spark and cause an electrical fire behind walls if sparks ignite building materials. An electrical shock/current might also be felt when plugging and unplugging items.

Flickering Lights

This phenomenon can be caused by a variety of issues. It can be as simple as a loose bulb. However, if wiring is the culprit, the issue will likely affect the whole household. It might be accompanied by issues such as tripping circuit breakers. Flickering lights related to the wiring are caused by the electrical system identifying that there is an irregular or faulty connection. A residential electrician is the best resource to use to determine if a home needs rewiring.

Reach out to a residential electrician services company to learn more