Do I Need an Electrical Contractor to Rewire My Houston Home?
If you suspect that your Houston home has electrical problems, you may need to seek the help of an experienced and knowledgeable electrical contractor.
Older homes have beauty, personality, and character. But, homebuyers often forget when they’re purchasing an aging home that there’s more than aesthetics to consider.
Renovating an older home can be a fun project, but electrical problems shouldn’t be overlooked. Here’s what to look for when determining whether or not you need an electrical contractor to rewire your home.
The Million Dollar Question: How Old is the Wiring?
Finding out how old the wiring in your home is might be the most crucial question to have an answer to.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, poor wiring or damaged insulation causes 67% of electrical house fires and 55% of all deaths related to electrical fires in the home. Moreover, electrical failures and malfunctions cause nearly 34,000 home fires a year.
If your house was built 40 or 50 years ago, it’s at high risk for an electrical fire. Aluminum wires are also a clue that the wiring of your home is too dated.
You’ll want a licensed, electrical contractor to inspect your home’s wiring to determine its age and if it needs to be rewired.
Flickering Lights
If you’re a horror movie fan, at first you might think you have a poltergeist when your home’s lights flicker. Unfortunately, it could be because of fluctuating voltage or loose wiring. And those things are hazardous and can cause a fire.
When you operate a large appliance, do the lights in your home flicker? The voltage may be fluctuating more than it should. If your lights dim when you least expect them to or burn out too much, the voltage in your home may not be right.
Either way, if you’re experiencing flickering lights, it’s time to call an electrician to evaluate the wiring of your home. Don’t put it off. It’s not something you want to ignore.
Outlet Issues
If your home’s outlets are hot when you touch them or spark when you plug something in, something’s not right.
When you plug something into a wall outlet, you should never feel anything. If you have any of these outlet issues, contact an experienced electrical contractor as soon as possible.
Burning Smell or Singe Marks
Chances are that if you find black singe marks on an electrical plug or smell something burning, you won’t need convincing about the need to contact an electrician.
Fire is a scary thing. Singe marks and burning smells can mean that the wiring inside the walls of your home is shorting out. Time to get it evaluated ASAP!
You Live Life in the 21st Century
Our grandparents didn’t live in a high-tech age as we do. They had a television, basic kitchen appliances, and a radio. They didn’t have all the fancy new gadgets and appliances we use today.
They weren’t concerned about charging their laptops or cell phones because they didn’t have any. They didn’t have media centers that included gaming systems, Rokus, or fancy home infusers to make their homes smell nice.
Older homes were built with minimal levels of electrical use in mind. So, if the circuit breaker blows every time use your Ninja blender, your home’s electrical wiring is in serious need of an upgrade.
You’ll also need to get your home rewired if it only has two-prong plugs, instead of three-prong plugs or if there aren’t enough outlets in the rooms to accommodate the number of electrical items you use.
What’s the Condition of Your Home’s Fuse Box?
Inspect the fuse box of your home. Is it a wood box or does it have a wood backing? Is it missing labels? Is it fuses or a circuit breaker?
Does it have a black cable coming out of it? It may be time to change out the electrical panel.
The Takeaway
If you’re not sure about your home’s electrical condition, it’s best to have an electrical contractor evaluate any issue you’re having. Maybe you’re not even having a problem and just want to be sure? After all, potential fire hazards may exist in your home.
Illuminations Lighting Design in Houston can help to determine if you’re having a minor issue or need a major upgrade. We serve Houston and surrounding areas in the great big state of Texas, including Bellaire, River Oaks, West University, Memorial, Royal Oaks, and more!
Our residential electrical contractors have the expertise you need to determine what your home requires so that you and your family are safe. When you want an electrical job done right, call us at 713-863-1133 or 800-863-1184 to schedule a consultation.
Follow Us: