It is always a smart move to protect your property investment, which is why renovations and upgrades are required at certain times. If you live in an older home you will likely have a wiring system that was installed using different standards compared to those in force today.
That prompts the question of whether it is safe to keep using your original wiring or whether it needs replacing. If you search electrician Alexandra, for instance, you will be able to find someone who can give you a professional evaluation of the safety and integrity of your wiring system.
In the meantime, here’s a few pointers to help you decide if the wiring in your older home can be considered safe, or whether it’s time to get it replaced.
Does your home insurance cover your wiring?
A good clue to help guide you about the current suitability of your wiring is to see if what you have installed is deemed acceptable by your home insurance company.
For instance, if you live in a home that was constructed before 1940 and still has the original wiring, this will usually prompt an insurer not to cover your property for damage. If you have ceramic insulators, commonly associated with a wiring system known as knob-and-tube, it is likely that you don’t have a safety grounding system.
Although the lack of a ground doesn’t mean your wiring is unusable it does create a heightened safety risk that will prompt most insurers to back away from offering you cover.
In essence, if your home has this outdated wiring system you are much more exposed to potential safety problems when a fault develops. You should ask yourself whether you want to continue using a wiring system that lacks the critical safety features that are an integral aspect of modern wiring standards.
Look for some vital clues
Another major consideration is basic wear and tear. It stands to reason that if your wiring is starting to look a bit damaged in places that might prompt you to have a conversation with an electrician about updating your wiring system.
If you can see any exposed metal wires, these need to be re-insulated by a professional or replaced completely. Another big clue is when you look inside your fuse box and see what size amps are installed.
Older wiring systems were not designed to cope with the modern loading demands of a typical household. These older systems were intended to cope with a demand of less than 15 amps, whereas common appliances used today in our homes often need between 30 and 50 amps. As these older fuses were intended for a lower capacity you are exposing yourself to greater risk of fire and damage by continuing to use a circuit that is being constantly overloaded.
These pointers should help you see if you have a potential problem with your wiring and whether it’s time for an upgrade. The best strategy would be to get a qualified electrician to take a look at your wiring system and advise you of your options.
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