The downside of buying an older house is that sometimes you may need to spend more money on maintenance or updates. This is especially true regarding safety issues like an old electrical system

Many home buyers prefer a house with a bit of history instead of a newer-built one. An old home can be full of charm and wonder. Original wood floorboards, detailed molding, period-specific touches that can ignite a conversation, the list goes on and on.

Understanding how to update electrical wiring in an old house will help you assess, fix, and maintain this critical part of your older home.

Before we get into how to update the electrical wiring in your old house, let’s look at whether you need to. If you are a homeowner with a historic home, you may need to replace your outdated wiring system. If everything is working and up to code, you may not.

The second reason has to do with selling or renting your property. When you find a potential buyer or renter, an inspection must be done before you can seal the deal. This involves a licensed electrician reviewing all the wiring in your home to make sure everything is up to code.

Suppose the electrician finds outdated wiring (often in older homes). In that case, you might fail an inspection and can only sell or rent the house once the new wiring is installed.

• Is your wiring outdated or not up to code? For two key reasons, having up-to-date wiring that meets current wiring codes is critical. The first is safety. U.S. electrical codes created by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) are intended to prevent fires.
• Do your systems use aluminum wiring? Aluminum wiring presents several dangers, such as loosening over time, overheating, and causing fires. If the electrical system in your older home has aluminum wiring, it might be time for rewiring.
• Are your amps able to provide your home with enough power? Most older houses use a standard 60 amps or 100 amps, but modern homes require 200 amps. If your home doesn’t have 200 amps, it might be time to call an electrician.
• Do you frequently experience electrical problems? Many signs of the need for new wiring in an old home can be observed daily. Burning smells, discoloration of outlets and switches, flickering lights, and frequent circuit breaker trips are some signs homeowners can look out for.

4 Steps To Update Wiring In An Old House

Now that you know the signs, let’s dive into the process of rewiring an old house. This consists of reviewing all your electrical systems, understanding your local codes, making a list of your desired electrical projects, contacting a reputable electrician, planning for demolition and reconstruction, and finding hardware that matches your home.

1. Review All Of Your Electrical Systems

List all your electrical systems and where and how you use them. Why? You can’t tackle a project like rewiring an old house without knowing exactly what you are getting into. Here are some things you should be sure to cover.

• Inspect your circuit breakers: Look for rust or signs of pest activity. Ensure all circuit breakers flip on and off easily and don’t get stuck.
• Test your GFCI outlets: All outlets near a water source should be protected by ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI). Press the test button to make sure all GFCI outlets are safe.
• Test all other outlets: Buy a cube tester and plug it into each outlet in your home. A light will display that corresponds with specific wiring issues. Also, check for outlet tightness. If it wiggles, that isn’t good. Be sure to do these tests on your outdoor outlets as well.
• Look at all the wiring you can see: Look over any wiring you can see, like in the basement or attic. Make sure there are no cracks or splits.
• Test your voltage: If certain appliances are acting weird, short circuit, or lights are flickering, it might be a voltage issue. Check the power at each outlet with a voltmeter. For standard 120-volt outlets, you might see it indicate between 110 and 130 volts. That’s normal. If the volt readings are outside this range, you have a problem to address.
• Look at your extension cords: Ensure they are free of cracks or splits. Also, ensure the extension cords you use for power tools have the correct amperage rating.

2. Understand Your Local Codes

It’s essential to understand your local codes for electrical work, such as how many outlets you can have in each room and what type of wire you need to use. This ensures a safe rewiring of your old house and passing necessary inspections.

3. Make A List Of Desired Electrical Projects

Make a list of any projects you need completed before finding an electrician, such as:

• Upgrading the main service electrical panel

• Running wires directly from a circuit breaker to an outlet

• Spacing outlets at 6 – 8 feet apart to avoid extensions

• Installing grounding wires and three-prong outlets

• Adding ground-fault circuit interrupters in the kitchen, bathrooms, and outdoors

Electricians that you call for a quote need to know the scope of work before telling you how much it will cost. They also need this to determine when they can get the job done and how long it will take.

4. Contact A Reputable Electrician

Going the DIY route is an excellent way to save money. Still, it’s best to hire a reputable electrician to complete your electrical rewiring. Electricians are highly trained to get work done safely and effectively.

They are also trained to make sure that they protect your existing infrastructure.

At Streb Electric we are electricians that understand older homes.

Streb Electric is an electrical services company based in Eastlake, Ohio, servicing Eastern Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga Counties. We offer the personal service of a small, family-owned business, with the professionalism and wide range of services of a large company, making us the perfect choice for electrical projects of all sizes. Contact us today to get your older home safe and up to code.

Are you building a new home? Maybe you’re thinking about adding an extra room to your existing home.

Something many homeowners don’t consider is the electrical component in these kinds of projects. Given the types of options out there it can be overwhelming to decide what options best fit your electrical needs. From smart home systems to power surge protection and electrical panel upgrades there are a lot of choices today.

In the US 50,900 fires are attributed to electrical failure or malfunction each year. These fires, in turn, accounted for 490 deaths and 1,440 injuries. These numbers show that electrical issues are a very serious matter and are not something that should be thought of lightly.

Any device hooked up to your home’s electrical circuit can produce the necessary amps to shock you fatally. From 1992 to 2002, electrocution was the 6th leading cause of workplace fatalities.

This danger is why you should call an electrician to ensure your safety and to make sure there is no damage to whatever it is you are working on.

In today’s society electricity is all around us. You are using electricity right now to read this article; our homes use electricity, our cars, phones, computer, electricity is everywhere. Because electricity is so commonplace today, we forget there is real danger involved.

Even though an electrical problem might seem simple on the surface, it could be a very complicated. When you try to fix an electrical issue even a seemingly minor mistake can damage your appliance, start a fire, or electrocute you.

An additional reason as to why you should call an electrician is because depending on what electrical work is being done you will need to get a permit and have inspectors look at the work. Hiring a professional electrician greatly enhances your chances of obtaining the necessary permits.

Electrical problems you’ll want to watch for in your home:

1. Faulty wiring can lead to an overload in energy use, which could cause frequent tripping in circuit breakers and blown fuses.
2. Overloading outlets often lead to short-circuiting plugs. The best way to avoid this is by using extension cords sparingly when necessary.
3. Corroded wires can lead to overheating and fires. This means you must take care of any frayed or loose wiring.
4. Frequent electrical shocks can be a major problem if you’re working around wires that aren’t properly grounded. For example, you might get an electric shock when using certain appliances or even get your hair wet in the shower. Grounding these power sources is crucial to avoid this issue in the future.

The bottom line: Always call in professional help when dealing with electricity issues in your home.

Top 8 Electrical Upgrades 

1. Smart Home Systems

Smart home systems allow homeowners complete control of their devices while they’re home or away. They add a layer of protection that lets you manipulate your house. Essentially, so people think you are home, even when you’re not. And it’s all from your smartphone.

From switches, outlets, and smoke detectors you can control from your phone, full home automation is no longer a thing of the future, it’s here now.

2. Remote-Controlled Devices

In our busy world, if we can automate a device to save time, we have that ability nowadays. From ceiling fans and window treatments (and even lowering the chandelier from your vaulted ceiling to changing light bulbs or cleaning!), remote-controlled devices are on the rise.

3. Hidden Outlets

No one likes unsightly cords from their devices to the outlet! Hidden outlets behind your televisions, projectors, or museum-lighted art displays can remedy that issue.

4. In-Home Chargers

From electric cars to all your electrical handheld devices, dedicated charging stations can help your electrical system work for you.

5. Whole House Surge Protection

All it takes is one powerful electrical surge or lightning strike to severely damage your home’s electrical system and any connected devices, even if you’re using power strips or an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). A whole house surge protection system provides extra protection for your electrical system.

6. Electrical Panel Upgrade

If you’re adding a new room or upgrading your electrical system, an electrical panel upgrade may be necessary. This will ensure that your electrical system is up to code and can handle the new load.

THE MAIN ELECTRICAL PANEL IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF ANY HOME’S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AS IT SERVES AS THE HEART OF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM.

At Streb Electric, we specialize in repairing and replacing electrical panels to help improve the safety and efficiency of homes.

7. LED Lighting

LED lighting is a great way to save money on your energy bills. It also produces less heat than traditional lighting and can help reduce cooling costs in the summer.

8. Electrical Wiring

Old or faulty wiring can be a fire hazard. If you’re renovating or adding a new room, make sure to have your electrical wiring inspected and updated as needed.

Now that you have some ideas, what’s next?

Call Streb Electric to Make It Happen!

Whether we’re partnered directly with you or your chosen contractor, we always put you, the customer, first by:

• Providing quick quotes for service

• Showing up when scheduled

• Working effectively and efficiently

• Being courteous of your home and belongings

• Cleaning up when we’re done

With our ironclad warranty on all our work, we promise 100% satisfaction. For over 40 years, Streb Electric has been serving the needs of Lake County, Geauga County, and Western and Eastern Cuyahoga County.

Don’t just take our word for it! Check out these reviews from our customers!

Ready to get started? Contact us today.