Old Home Rewiring
Electrical Wiring & Repair Services in Berkeley, CA
Have you purchased a home in the Berkeley, CA area? If your home is on the older side, chances are good that its wiring is outdated. There are a number of pitfalls and risks that come with outdated wiring. For one thing, modern appliances, televisions, computers, and gadgets use far more power than they once did: the increased energy use alone is enough to short your circuits if you're not careful. Beyond that, old home wiring can present a safety concern, especially when you are dealing with outdated tactics or worn wire insulation.
If you require electrical wiring services or you have wires that need to be repaired or replaced, you can count on our reliable electricians! Our electrical services are available to those in Berkeley, CA and the Bay Area.
Why Update Your Old Home Wiring?
Electrical issues are the cause of approximately 6% of all residential fires. If you live in a home with older wiring systems, you're essentially putting yourself at risk. There are multiple reasons why you should consider updating your old home wiring, including:
- Improved Safety - Many older homes have wiring systems that just don't meet today's safety standards. The outdated wiring is prone to issues and failure, making your life more difficult. By upgrading your old home wiring, you're improving the safety of your home.
- Increased Power - Older homes have fewer outlets and usually only are able to handle about 100-150 amps of electricity. This means that your appliances may not be getting the power they need to function correctly and efficiently. By updating your old home wiring, you could increase the amount of power flowing into your home!
- Decreased Fire Risk - House fires can result in tons of damage and potentially death. Since a large amount of house fires begin because of electrical problems, you can avoid the risk by updating your old home wiring.
- Protection from Surges - Power surges can potentially damage the electrical components in your home. Things like computers, TVs, and gaming systems are vulnerable to power spikes that can fatally damage them. Modern electrical wiring can include whole-house suppressors, which means your entire home is protected in the event of a power surge.
- Boost Convenience - In the past, residential wiring was designed for utility, and convenience wasn't highly considered. If you own an older home, you may find yourself frustrated at the lack of outlets or the poor lighting locations. Updating your old home wiring means you can have as many outlets installed as you'd like, giving you more electrical access throughout your house.
Should You Keep Old Home Wiring?
It depends. According to the National Electrical Code, existing knob and tube wiring can remain in use in a house. In some instances, it may be possible to splice old wiring with a new cable. However, all work done on old home wiring must adhere to local code requirements.
Because it can be tricky to deal with older wiring in homes, trust the Berkeley area's trusted professionals to get the job done safely and within code.
Do You Need an Electrical Panel Upgrade?
If the wiring in your home is old, you likely will need an electrical panel upgrade.
In the past, electrical panels did not need to support as much energy as we consume today. Electric panels only had a few items that depended on them. However, today a lot more energy is consumed by households. For example, your refrigerator, microwave, stove, toaster, and other kitchen appliances all rely on electricity. Plus, phones, tablets, computers, air conditioning, and televisions all require electricity. As new gadgets become a part of our everyday life, more electricity is needed. Sadly, older panels were not designed to support all of these gadgets or our lifestyle today.
Additionally, older electric panels were made differently. As the years passed, more research has been done, technology has advanced, and now panels are more energy efficient. If you have an outdated panel, an electric panel upgrade can help you save money on your electric bill. Plus, new panels are safer to use than older ones. Some older electric panels from the 1960s and 1970s should be replaced immediately. These panels have been known to cause fires. If you suspect you have a panel from these years, it is best to call a reliable electrician to get a panel upgrade as soon as possible.
An older electrical panel will only cause problems for your property. From dimmed lights to damaged appliances, fire hazards, high utility bills, and tripped breakers, an old electric panel is not a problem you want to have. Anytime you suspect that you have an older electric panel and need a panel upgrade, we invite you to give our reliable electrician a call.
