Installing New Wiring in Your Home

5 Signs Your Electrical Wiring is Outdated and Needs Immediate Replacement

20 September 2022 by June Alvarez

Electrical wiring malfunction is one of the leading causes of domestic fires. Poorly wired houses and those with outdated wiring are also more significant electrocution hazards than homes with excellent electrical systems. You can learn signs of bad wiring and call an electrician before the weakness leads to shock, fire damage and casualties. Here are some ways to tell that your wiring is outdated and needs replacement. 

Smoke and Discoloured Sockets 

The sockets will age and change their colour with time. However, the change should not be drastic, and you shouldn't end up with dark patches of smoke on the wall. The presence of smoke stains on the socket indicates that small fires are happening inside the setup. It is only time before a fire doesn't go out in time, and your appliances or home gets damaged. You should call the electrician to assess the affected parts and repair or replace what might have malfunctioned. 

Dimming and Flickering Lights

The lights can flicker and dim for various reasons. However, the top reason why it happens is when the wiring supporting them can no longer handle the current. The terminals also rust as the system gets older. Terminals with rust provide an unstable power connection, which leads to the light bulbs flickering on and off. 

Warm and Vibrating Sockets

Always watch out for overheating in the sockets. It is typical for the point where you plug in an appliance to have a temperature rise, especially when the equipment runs for hours. However, the socket should never get hot enough to burn your hand when you touch it. Vibration is another sign of trouble to watch. Both result from damaged wiring. Immediate replacement of the damaged bits prevents further system damage. 

Wiring Made of Aluminium

Aluminium was a common wiring alternative in the past. It is an excellent conductor but is less efficient than copper. Homes with aluminium wiring are more likely to suffer electrical fire damage than those with copper. Copper's safety is in the fact that it is more resistant to heat damage.

Frayed Connections

You should also assess the physical appearance of the wiring. Broken and frayed wiring are signs that the system has aged and needs replacement. Frayed wiring is dangerous as it can cause current leakage, short-circuiting and electrocution.

Talk to an electrician once you notice these signs of an outdated electrical system. They will choose the ideal materials, and strategize and install new, safe and more efficient wiring in your home.  

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