Should You Rewire Your Home? Here's How to Tell

Should you rewire your home? It depends on a few different factors. Here are some of the most relevant.

Do Breakers (or Fuses) Often Pop?

Modern homes demand electricity at a level that probably no one could have predicted back in the 1800s. That's when the first homes were wired up for power. If your wiring is older, it might not handle the load. And the result is breakers that trip or fuses that blow.

It's important to recognize that a tripped breaker or blown fuse indicates a problem. Those issues happen when the demand is higher than the wiring and panel can handle. When a breaker or fuse pop, it's a preventive measure that guards against an electrical fire. If your home is plagued by frequently blown circuits, don't reset or replace and forget about it until the next time. An electrician can find the problem and protect your home and family.

The existence of K&T doesn't mean that the home has never been rewired.

Do You Have Knob-and-Tube Wiring?

Some very old homes have a type of wiring called knob-and-tube or K&T. In its original form and for what it was designed to do, it was pretty safe. But electricity demand is higher now, and the materials have probably degraded a lot over the years. If even a small section of your home is still wired with knob-and-tube, it should probably be rewired.

One of the biggest problems with K&T wiring is that the insulation that protects the wire breaks down over time. That leaves the bare metal exposed, which means there's nothing to stand between the electricity that runs through it and the combustible materials inside your walls and ceilings. Then, of course, there's the high demand on wiring that was never intended to support it. Do yourself a favor and let a pro check it out.

A safe electrical panel is labeled well and shows no signs of corrosion.

Do You Have an Old Electrical Box?

As with K&T wiring, there's nothing inherently dangerous about a fuse box. That is if it's maintained in good condition. But the sheer age of some fuse boxes means that rust and other corrosion is a problem. Nothing lasts forever. Some breaker boxes aren't as new as you might imagine either.

Then there's the issue of certain brands that are known hazards in the industry. It's no secret that Federal Pacific panels installed between 1950 and 1990 pose a significant threat of fire. In fact, Inspectapedia calls them "fires waiting to happen." Peek inside to see if there's corrosion, and look at the brand name. If you're suspicious, Rodenhiser can tell you whether your home is at risk.

Do You Need More Outlets and Fixtures?

The more prevalent electrical devices become, the more demand is placed on the wiring. Some homeowners compensate by adding power strips to expand one outlet into several. And some resort to extension cords. Neither is a good, long-term solution. And then there's the issue of a home addition or remodel. Where new wiring is added, it's a good idea to update the whole system.

Older homes, even those built just a couple of decades ago, might not have enough outlets or fixtures to suit a modern lifestyle. Using stopgaps, such as outlet extenders, places too much burden on the wiring at the outlet. They're technically safe, but they're not recommended as a permanent solution. The best way to accommodate your needs is with a wiring update that you know is safe and up to code.

No home is wired to last forever. What's code at the time the wiring is installed will likely change. And so will the level of electricity demand that's placed on the system.

For safety's sake, it's always best to let an electrical contractor inspect your wiring when you think that there might be a problem. Luckily, that's an area where Rodenhiser excels. We have served the Route 495 / 128 area of Massachusetts for 85 years and counting.

When you work with us, you can rest easy because you'll know that your home and family are in good hands. Contact Rodenhiser when you need dependable electrical service.