Do you have an older home and you’re wondering when to replace electrical wiring? As the trusted professional electrician in Muskogee, OK, Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric can help you understand the best time to replace your wiring. With our help, you’ll have a competitive price that can keep your lights on and your family protected from electrical fires.
Signs Your Muskogee Home Needs New Wiring
If you have a damaged or outdated electrical system, you put yourself at risk for electrical fires and lights or appliances that malfunction when you need them most. If you’re unsure when to schedule a replacement for your home’s wiring, look for the following signs.
Old Wiring and Insulation
You can’t always tell when you have aging wiring, especially if you recently bought an older home. You can expect your wiring to last about 50 years, so if your home is around that age, it likely hasn’t had an electrical upgrade yet.
Even if you haven’t noticed any other problems yet, as your wires age, the insulation around them wears away. This makes them more vulnerable to sparking or catching fire, and replacing them before you notice issues becomes essential to electrical safety.
Frequently Flickering Lights
If you’re wondering when to replace electrical wiring, pay attention to how frequently your lights flicker. Many homes experience the occasional flickering, but if you notice it frequently, especially when you turn on other appliances, you have a problem you should address.
Flickering occurs when you don’t have a high enough capacity to support the current running through your wires or you have a problem regulating it. This usually happens when you have degrading insulation or an older electrical panel. You can also tell you have a problem if you experience frequent circuit breaker trips.
Aluminum Wiring
Older Muskogee homes often have aluminum wiring, which has a high vulnerability to fraying. They also conduct heat exceptionally well, making them a big risk for starting fires if they overheat. If you’re unsure whether you have aluminum wiring, do your family a favor and schedule an inspection so you can know how to proceed.
Sparking Outlets
If you notice different outlets sparking occasionally, you shouldn’t worry too much. It can happen from natural causes like a buildup of static electricity.
However, if you notice it happening frequently, especially at the same outlet every time, you have a problem with your wiring. Without prompt attention, the insulation in your wall could catch fire during one of these sparks.
Burning Smells
If you smell burning in your home, you should always feel concerned and take immediate steps to fix the situation. When it comes to your electrical wiring, you’ll likely notice the smell whenever you turn on your lights, appliances, or any device connected to the problematic circuit. You may also see scorch marks emanating from your outlets, which gives you a clear indication it almost caught fire.
Occasional Shocks
Are you looking for an answer about when to replace electrical wiring? Pay attention to any shocks you receive when you plug something into an outlet. You may consider the shocks only a minor inconvenience, but they indicate a more serious problem and it only takes one serious shock to cause long-term problems.
Increased Outlet Needs
Some older Muskogee homes only have a couple of outlets in each room. In the age of technology, this often doesn’t meet the needs of families with multiple computers, televisions, appliances, and more. If you need more outlets in your home, don’t balk at the opportunity to update your home’s wiring.
Caring for Your Home’s Electrical System
How can you care for your home’s wiring to help it last longer and avoid serious complications?
- Once a month, check all your outlets for damage, and schedule a whole-home electrical inspection every three years.
- Keep your breaker and outlets free of dust and dirt buildup.
- Avoid overloading your circuits by plugging too many devices into a single outlet.
- Confirm your kitchen and bathrooms have ground fault circuit interrupter outlets.
- Maintain your appliances and replace them once they become out of date.
Update Your Muskogee, OK, Electrical System
Now that you know when to replace electrical wiring in Muskogee, OK, you can call Quality Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric at the first sign of trouble. Whether you need AC repair or updates to all the wiring in your home, we work diligently to produce superior results and keep you both happy and safe. You’ll love working with our professional, friendly, and knowledgeable team members.
To schedule expert service, call us today. Speak to an expert.
