Older homes have quirks, leaks, creaks, and issues. Updating your electrical wiring solves a surprising number of older home issues. Fisher Brothers Electrical helps the homeowners of Melbourne quickly solve their electrical wiring problems so they can better enjoy their home. Modern gadgets overburden the circuits in older homes. Electrical wiring wears out. Whether the wiring issue causes danger, annoyance, or has an easy fix, Fisher Brothers can help.
Dangerous Electrical Wiring Problems
Fuse box Significantly older homes, those 50 years old or older, contain fuse boxes. They work as well as circuit breaker panels unless a fuse of a higher than appropriate amperage gets installed. This can cause the wires to overheat, damage the wire’s insulation, and increase the risk of fire. The best solution to this electrical wiring issue is to replace the old-fashioned fuse box with a modern circuit breaker system.
Flickering Lights In Windy Conditions
When damaged, the weatherhead, or outdoor fitting where the power line’s overhead cables come into the house, causes flickering lights. It’s most likely that frayed electrical wiring causes the short when wind blows the cables. While the flickering lights may annoy you, the real danger is that frayed wires can arc and spark a fire. Contact your utility company to see who handles repairs.
Plug Falls Out of The Receptacle
You probably categorize it as annoying when the plug falls out of the receptacle, but it creates a dangerous situation. Worn contacts on the outlet receptacle don’t firmly grip the prongs. These loose contacts can cause an arc. The arc can ignite dust, dry wood, or debris within the wall. The best solution is to replace old receptacles.
No Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters It’s likely you’re not familiar with GFCIs, but this safety feature saves lives. A GFCI shuts down circuits in four milliseconds, quick enough to protect you from shock. They’re most important in wet areas like bathrooms and kitchens where there’s an increased electrocution risk. The best solution is to have GFCIs installed.
Aluminum Wiring In the 1960s and 1970s, aluminum wire provided a cheap substitute for copper wire. The two types intermix in some houses creating an unsafe situation. Aluminum corrodes when it contacts copper. This creates loose connections that can cause arcing and fires. The best solution is to retrofit the electrical wiring with dielectric wire nuts at the aluminum/copper connection in each light fixture. The nuts contain a grease that maintains conductivity while stopping corrosion.
Annoying Electrical Wiring Problems
Over wired Panel You probably won’t have a problem unless you have your home inspected. You’ll go through an inspection if you put your house up for sale or have extensively remodelled. An over wired panel refers to a panel with more circuits than it is rated to accommodate. Several tandem breakers replaced some single-pole breakers in one slot. The best solution is to add a subpanel to provide extra slots or replace the panel with a larger one made to accommodate your needs.
Ungrounded Receptacles Your home can’t conduct stray current if it has ungrounded, two-prong receptacles. Although tempting, don’t use a three-prong adapter so you can plug in a three-prong device. You could destroy the device and electrocute yourself. The best solution is to have your two-prong receptacles replaced with three-prong ones.
Easily Fixed Electrical Wiring Problems
Uncovered Junction Box Some older junction boxes don’t have covers. Sometimes, the cover comes off. The junction box houses the splices that connect the wires to one another. An open box invites electrical wiring damage or a person could brush against the wires and get shocked. The best solution is to install a new cover.
Not Enough Outlets If you don’t have enough outlets, you’re probably relying on extension cords and power strips to extend your home’s capabilities. In the short term, this remains safe so long as you only use heavy-duty extension cords. Regular extension cords can overheat when running to high a load and spark a fire. The best solution for the long-term is to have additional receptacles installed. An electrician can easily add outlets where you need them.
Many common household problems simply require an electrical wiring update. Let Fisher Brothers fix your electrical wiring issues and help make your home a more comfortable, enjoyable place.