There are some electrical problems that call for an upgrade or rewiring. Here are telltale signs of problems that may require such a solution.
Flickering or Dim Lights
There are various causes of flickering lights, but many of them mean it's time to upgrade your electrical wiring. For example, your lights may flicker if their wiring is damaged or if they are not getting adequate power. In the latter case, it means the electrical items in your house are drawing more power than your wiring was designed to provide. That is a dangerous situation that may lead to further catastrophe, including electrical fires, if not checked.
Permanent or Too Much Use of Extension Cords
An extension cord is meant to temporarily provide power where there is no power outlet. For example, if you want to install decorative lights during a celebration, you can use an extension cord for the purpose. Therefore, something is wrong with your wiring if you find yourself using an extension cord on a daily basis. It is easy for someone to trip on the cord, for the cord to overheat, or for the cord to get damaged or nicked accidentally. In such a case, you should upgrade your electrical wiring to include further electrical outlets or circuits.
Frequent Breaker Trips
Electrical breakers are meant to cut off the flow of electricity in case there is a malfunction in a circuit; for example, breakers trip when the circuit is overloaded. Therefore, if your breakers keep tripping all the time, it means there is a problem that needs to be fixed fast. For example, it may be that the wiring is faulty or damaged, the panel is damaged, or you are overloading your electrical circuits. In most cases, the solution calls for an upgrade of your electrical wiring.
There Are Hot Spots on Your Outlets
Lastly, you should also consider upgrading your wiring if your outlets or the areas around your outlets are hot to the touch. This is particularly true if those areas are getting discolored. These signs mean that your outlets are handling too much power than they were designed to handle or that they are experiencing more electrical resistance than normal. This can occur if you have electrical appliances that require more power than the outlets should be forced to provide.
Don't jump to conclusions if you sense electrical problems in your house. Consult an electrical contractor to help you diagnose and solve the problem.
When we purchased our first home, we realized that there was a problem with some of the electrical work. Some of the lights flickered when we turned them on, and others really seemed to have issues if they were left on long term. I thought the issues was the light bulbs themselves at first, so I replaced several of them. However, after making those changes, it seemed like things were still having trouble. I began going through and thinking carefully about how to identify and resolve the challenges, and it occurred to me that working with an electrician could be helpful. I turned to the professional for help, and it was a good thing I did. Read more about electricians on this blog.