How confident are you in the wiring throughout your home? In older homes, it’s very common for there to be electrical problems, often caused by outdated materials that were used in the original wiring of the home or limited capacity that doesn’t meet modern needs. Homes of any age can have electrical issues due to poorly done wiring when it was built, damage from pests or water, or amateur repairs.
Sometimes, the way to make sure your home is safe and your electrical needs are met is rewiring. So how can you determine whether it’s necessary to have your home rewired? Here are some warning signs you shouldn’t ignore.
Flickering Lights
Chances are, your house isn’t haunted. If you notice lights flickering in your home you have an electrical problem. This phenomenon often occurs when a large appliance such as an air conditioner cycles on and the wiring simply cannot cope with the demand.
Hot Spots
It’s not normal for a light switch, outlet, or random spot on the wall to feel hot to the touch. This can indicate that electrical current is flowing somewhere that it shouldn’t. This poses a risk of fire and you should have an electrician check it out as soon as possible.
Circuit Breaker Tripping
It’s normal for this to occur on occasion, especially when you use multiple large appliances on a single circuit. But if this happens repeatedly with the same circuit, or happens with multiple circuits in your home, it’s a sign that the electrical system overall is overloaded.
Scorch Marks
If you see black streaks in your circuit breaker box, or on an outlet or light switch plate, it’s from a tiny electrical fire. Don’t let this problem continue because you could end up with a much larger fire.
Burning Smells
The sharp scent of an electrical fire is not something you ever want to experience in your home. If you can’t find the source of the smell, it may be in an out-of-the-way place such as in wiring behind your drywall. Don’t delay in getting professional electrical help.
Burned-Out Bulbs
Lightbulbs are intended to last for years. If you find yourself changing them over and over, it can be a sign that there’s a mismatch between the voltage and the wiring or the fixture it’s flowing through.
Buzzing Sounds
If you can’t locate a bee in your home, but you keep hearing buzzing noises, it could be that wiring is burning somewhere in the house. This is another high-risk situation and a qualified electrician can locate the source of the sound and provide a solution.
Sparks
Have you ever seen a spark when you plugged something into an outlet, or unplugged it? Perhaps you’ve even seen an electrical arc like tiny lightning between the outlet and the plug. This is not the way your home’s electrical system should behave.
When you notice one or more of these warning signs, it’s possible that part or all of your home needs to be rewired. And when you need electrical rewiring in Birmingham, AL, you can count on us to get the job done right. We’ve been in the business for over 50 years, making sure that homes are safe and people’s electrical needs are met.
“Your experience is what matters most!” Contact Douglas Cooling & Heating today to get your electrical service needs taken care of.
