How to Tell if a Home Needs an Electrical Rewiring

Since most of the electrical system lies behind walls, faulty wiring is hard to spot.

Since most of the electrical system lies behind walls, faulty wiring is hard to spot. Without regular maintenance and repairs, a home's wiring can become problematic and even lead to an emergency. However, a few tell-tale signs can alert homeowners before the rewiring problem becomes a serious safety threat.

Here's how to tell if a home needs electrical rewiring:

Shocks

Even the slightest electrical shock in a home can indicate something worrying. When plugging in appliances such as blenders or phone chargers, there shouldn't be any extra electricity that could shock the homeowner.

This is especially true if the issue occurs more than once. Shocks can cause anything from numbness to muscle contraction and even death in the most severe cases. If shocks are frequent in the home, it's time to contact a professional to assess the wiring situation.

Lights flickering

This can result from multiple issues, some more serious than others. Lightbulbs coming loose are a common culprit for flickering. It could also be the deterioration of electrical wiring.

If the bulbs are new and screwed in properly and the flickering continues, it may be time to call a professional electrician to address the matter. Flickering lights often arise from loose wiring, leading to injuries and electrical fires.

Burning smells

Burning odors can be subtle but clear indications of dangerous electrical wiring that needs immediate attention from a professional. Homeowners may notice the smell close to outlets and other electrical elements. Since this can signal the start of an electrical fire, it's best not to use the outlet and switch off the circuit breaker in the home.

Burning smells should never be ignored and require a professional to assess the situation and most likely initiate the rewiring process.

Outlet sparking

When an outlet sparks, it can indicate an issue with the home's wiring. If the problem continues too long, a sparking outlet could result in an electrical fire. Heat accumulates in the outlet area, leading to short circuits and possibly melting insulation. Additionally, homeowners may notice that the outlet area is excessively hot even if there is no spark, thus posing a safety hazard. Sparking outlets are also detrimental to any appliances plugged into them. It's best to contact a professional to assess if it's just the outlet or a more complex wiring issue.

Call the rewiring professionals

Rewiring can be a difficult and complex process only a professional should undertake. Homeowners attempting to do so themselves risk damaging the electrical system while sustaining an injury from electrical shocks and fires. A professional electrical company has the expertise, equipment, and resources to resolve the issue safely.

Zimmerman Electric is here to serve your residential and commercial electrical needs throughout the Phoenix Valley metro area. Call us today if you need electrical work performed 602-497-3365.