Is It Time For To Upgrade Your Homes Wiring?
How’s the wiring in your home? Does it need an upgrade? How long does wiring last?
Given how dependent we all are on electricity, it’s surprising how much we take it for granted. Unless you’ve been doing some heavy home renovation or you’ve had some specific electrical problems that needed fixing, you probably don’t give much thought to the wiring in your home. But this can be a mistake.
Your home wiring can have a life expectancy of 50 years or longer. However, it’s important that you don’t assume that this is the case. When wiring fails, it can be catastrophic, leading to a house fire.
How long your wiring can last and how you know when it’s time for an upgrade depends on a number of different factors, including the age of your house, the type of wiring you already have, the expertise of the person who wired your home and the kinds of demands you’re making on your existing wiring.
Issues With Knob and Tube Wiring
If your house was built before 1940 and has not had an electrical upgrade since, it may still use what is known as knob and tube wiring. The general recommendation from electricians is that you have this type of wiring upgraded. One hundred years ago, people’s electricity needs were very different from today, and knob and tube wiring may not be up to the task of supplying what you need.
Knob and tube wiring is certainly durable, but people often prefer to replace it for safety reasons even if they are not straining it with their contemporary electrical demands. Unlike modern systems of wiring, knob and tube wiring is not grounded, and its insulation is susceptible to degrading. If you’re not sure whether you have this type of wiring, an electrician can tell you and can make recommendations about whether to replace it.
Should You Have Your Wiring Inspected?
Even if you don’t have knob and tube wiring, your wiring may need replacing. One reason you should hire a professional to determine whether this is the case and to do the rewiring for you is that the wiring will last longer. A poorly-done wiring job can also create a fire hazard.
If you live in a home built in the past two decades or so and you haven’t noticed any problems with your electricity, you probably don’t need to have your wiring upgraded. However, it’s not a bad idea to have it inspected every few years. This can make it easy to catch small problems early on. If your wiring is more than 25 years old or you don’t know how old it is, you might want to schedule an inspection.
If you’re experiencing flickering lights, tripped circuit breakers, trouble with your outlets or any other electrical problems, you should schedule an inspection.
Wiring that is 30 or 40 years old or even older might not need to be replaced. It might be working just fine. On the other hand, an inspection can identify any problem areas and make sure that your electrical panel doesn’t need upgrading. It’s also possible that your wiring may simply need a few minor repairs.
If you’re buying home insurance, your insurance company might require an inspection and an upgrade. It’s also a good idea to have the wiring inspected if you are buying or selling a home.
Wiring Material and Longevity
Knob and tube wiring was eventually replaced by aluminum and copper wiring. If you have aluminum wiring in your home, you may want to replace it because it is more susceptible to corrosion and overheating. However, as with knob and tube wiring, it is still legal to have it in your home, and if the wiring is done correctly, you might choose to wait before having it redone.
Copper took over from aluminum as the commonly used metal for wiring, and it can have a life expectancy as long as 100 years compared to more like 80 years for aluminum. However, the sheathing on both types of wiring does not last as long as the wiring itself, and if it begins to break down, this can also be hazardous. Your copper or aluminum wiring may also outlast your transformers, which may need to be replaced after about 30 years.
Humidity and extreme weather conditions can also contribute to the deterioration of wiring. In addition, wiring of any age can have its life expectancy shortened if mice or other pests gnaw on it.
When to Replace Your Wiring?
As you can see, the question of your wiring’s life expectancy is not a simple one. It is a very important one because outdated wiring can be not just inconvenient but hazardous. On the other hand, rewiring is a major project and it can be costly. You don’t want to redo your whole home if it isn’t necessary.
This is why you need to consult professionals like the team at Mister Sparky.
Have Mister Sparky Check the Life Expectancy of Your Wiring
Don’t put up with any malarky, call Mister Sparky! Whole home wiring projects are not the time to go with do-it-yourself solutions or fly-by-night operations. With Mister Sparky, you can be sure that you’re getting experienced electricians with the know-how to check your wiring and solve any of your problems safely and efficiently. Contact Mister Sparky for all of your wiring and electricity needs.
