Have you noticed that lately your home’s electrical system isn’t quite right? If you have noticed tripped breakers, blown fuses, flickering lights, or strange sounds and smells in your Victoria BC home, it might be time to rewire your home. Rewiring your home’s electrical system isn’t just about energy efficiency or convenience - a home with out of date wiring could be at risk for fire, shock, or even electrocution.
Here are some signs that you may need to have a professional electrician rewire your home:
Frequent breaker tripping:
Are you constantly trekking down to the fuse box or breaker panel to fix a blown fuse or tripped breaker? If so, it might be a sign that your electrical panel is working too hard.
Overloaded panel:
If your electrical panel contains circuit breakers or fuses that are rated for a current that exceeds the capacity of their branch, your panel is overloaded. This means that it cannot safely support the amount of electricity running through it.
Heat or scorch marks
When you touch your switches or outlet covers, do they feel warm or hot? If you notice heat or black scorch marks near your outlets, this is a huge risk of fire that should be addressed immediately.Strange sounds or smells
If you hear sizzling, buzzing, or crackling coming from your outlets and switches, this is a pretty good sign that you need to call an electrician ASAP. A scorching or burning smell also calls for an urgent investigation by a professional.Brownouts
A brownout occurs when your lighting dims noticeably or flickers often, and can signal a drop in voltage.Outdated materials
Over the years, the types of wiring and electrical components used in homes has changed dramatically. If your home still has TRS cables, aluminum wiring, or knob-and-tube wiring, it’s time for an upgrade to make sure your home is compliant with modern safety standards.Two-pronged outlets
Take a look at your outlets - do they have two holes or three? The third prong is used to ground the electricity and protect against electrocution. All old outlets should be replaced by three-pronged outlets.Shocks
Getting an electric shock - even a small one - when you handle outlets or cords should be seen as a sign to have your electrical system inspected.Renovations
Doing some renos and electrical upgrades? If you are adding a room, new sound system, or new appliances to your home, you are likely increasing the need for electricity. Older homes were not designed to support all of our modern devices, so you will need to rewire your system if you are looking to upgrade your space.Too many extension cords
One or two extension cords may be needed sometimes, but if you are using them everywhere or for major appliances, it could be time for an electrical upgrade.
Re-wiring a home is never a project for DIYers or amateurs! It can be extremely dangerous to attempt to work with electrical equipment, so you should always call in a licensed, professional electrician. Your local electrician will also be knowledgeable about the latest building codes for your area.
If it’s time to rewire your Victoria BC home, contact us today!
