In the Sarasota area, there are many historic and mid-century homes. While charming, these homes often have not been updated in decades. If you purchased a classic home in Sarasota and want to make sure it is safe, your electrical wiring should be checked carefully. Outdated wiring can cause many issues in the home, including frequently tripped circuits or blown fuses leaving you without power.
Outdated wiring might also be inadequate for all types of modern appliances, devices and fixtures – let’s fact, a couple of decades ago, we couldn’t dream of all the cell phones, tablets, computers and smart TVs. These outdated electrical systems can also result in much higher utility bills than are necessary. But perhaps the most worrysome aspect of having old or outdated wiring is that it can cause sparks and start fires.
More Benefits Of Updating Your Wiring
You might think that it is to expensive to rewire your home. The truth is, it may be more expensive in the long run if you don’t. An old or malfunctioning breaker box will increase the amount of energy your household consumes, and leakage from old wiring could cause more electrical usage as well. A new box is likely to make all of your electrical use more efficient, therefore saving you money over the years.
Your electronic devices will benefit from updating your wiring since old wiring isn’t robust enough and may harm your equipment. Sixty amps was once adequate to run the home, but most modern homes require 200 amps or more to run TVs, computers, devices and air conditioning units. Too little power can cause your devices to malfunction.
Now that we’ve established why you need to upgrade your outdated wiring, let’s talk about how to know if your wiring is old.
Signs of Outdated Wiring
- Ceiling Lights Too Dim: you may think that a dim light means something is wrong with the light bulb. However, most dim lights are indicators that not enough power is flowing to the fixture, meaning your wiring may not be sufficient.
- Slight Burning Smell: Wiring which is melting will give off a smell which resembles a burning candle. If you occasionally smell burning and cannot identify the source, you may have a problem with faulty wiring. Call a professional electrician immediately.
- Smoking From Outlets: If there is smoke emanating from your electrical outlets, you need to take immediate action. Smoking wires can burst into flames, and cause a home fire. The same goes for any smoke from appliances or light fixtures.
- Strange Noises: Outdated wiring will often buzz, crackle or even sizzle – so if you hear strange noises, check your electrical panel, circuits and fuses.
- Evidence of Discoloration: If there is a black or brown discoloration around your outlet or on the wall in close proximity, you probably have an issue. The area may appear scorched, One sign of old wiring is discoloration around the outlet on the cover or even up the wall. The area may appear scorched, indicating that in-wall wiring is becoming overheated.
- Warm Areas Around Outlets: Your outlets should never get hot under any circumstance. The electricity behind the walls is comprised of coated wiring which prevents the current from escaping. If the coating is beginning to erode, the wires may get hot and cause the outlets to get warm.
- Aluminum Wiring: During the 1960s and 1970s, when many Sarasota homes were built, the use of aluminum wiring was commonplace. Loose connections from these early installations can cause overheating and are a major fire hazard.
- Frayed Wires: As wiring ages, it deteriorates and breaks down. Frayed wires can cause electrocution or house fires.
The master electricians at Promise Electric will help you to identify any electrical problems you are having, which from outdated wiring or not – and fix them quickly and with expertise. Nothing is more important than the safety of your family – call us today.
