Rewiring Your Home for Safety: What Every Homeowner Needs to Know

A home’s wiring serves several functions, all of which are essential to occupants in homes in the U.S. Electricity lights both days and nights, keeps everyone warm and comfortable, keeps the family connected and in communication, and entertains and informs at the same time. The electric power that flows through the wiring network has the potential to seriously shock people and ignite a fire that can destroy a home, so the wiring system plays a significant safety function as well. Routine maintenance tasks are few. However, there are several reasons that a home may need to be partially or completely rewired.

Reasons for Rewiring

Older homes may have substandard wiring materials, requiring complete rewiring.

• Homes that were constructed before the 1950s might have knob and tube wiring and this wiring system will need to be replaced. The wiring was covered by paper or fabric and supported by ceramic tubes. Wiring junctions were often left exposed. This wiring system poses an extreme shock and fire hazard and should be replaced.
• Homes built between 1960 and the 1970s might be constructed with aluminum wiring. The melting point for aluminum is low enough that resistance to the flow of electricity has caused the wiring to melt. This wiring system also poses an extreme fire hazard and should be replaced.

Damage to the electrical system can lead to a rewiring project. Damage might occur from a lightning strike, storm damage from wind or water, or from a fire. The extent of the project will be determined by the extent of the damage, but lightning, water, or fire can cause damage that cannot be ignored.

Renovation or remodeling projects that impact the electrical system may require some further rewiring. Building codes often require that any grandfathered electrical problem be corrected during renovation or remodeling.

A homeowner may recognize a problem that requires an investigation, and the investigation may lead to a partial rewiring project. Those indicators include:

• A circuit breaker that trips during normal electrical use. Watch for a repeated cause: the addition of one too many devices to a circuit or the use of a device that creates heat.
• Lights that flicker or dim regularly. The cause for such flicker might be the same—the addition of too many devices to a circuit or one device that draws an excessive amount of current for the circuit.
• Outlet face plates that melt or show signs of scorching. A visible spark may occur when a device is plugged into the outlet. Outlets and switches should not feel hot to the touch.
• An appliance that shocks someone while plugged into an outlet.
• A burning smell that cannot be accounted for by household activities.

The average family uses electricity for far more conveniences than most homes were designed for. Many of these devices do not draw significant current—device chargers and such—but some circuits may have an inadequate number of outlets for the devices being used. Extension cords and power strips are a temporary solution; plan for an additional circuit and add outlets to accommodate the devices commonly used.

AirPro’s Ultimate Guide to Rewiring Your Home

Protecting your home and family from electrical hazards is a priority. If you’ve noticed any of these warning signs, it’s crucial to have a professional assess your wiring. For a free, no-obligation estimate on home rewiring services in the Houston area, contact the experts at AirPro Houston today.

With our four decades of experience as residential electricians, AirPro Houston provides you with the knowledge of how to repair your home’s most complicated electrical systems. Call our residential electrician team with your rewiring questions at 281-880-8805.