Home Rewiring

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Homes that were built before 1950 may need home rewiring to meet today’s codes and higher safety standards. Construction pre-1950 involved the use of cloth covered wiring. Over time, the cloth deteriorates and falls off the wires, leaving the wires exposed and prone to fires. In most cases, the older the wiring, the more likely it is that it needs to be replaced.

Another safety concern with older homes is the electric panel. The electric panel is where the circuit breakers and fuses are stored. The power from the outside comes into the electric panel where it is distributed to the various breakers and fuses. Older electric panels may not provide enough electricity for today’s needs. If you have fuses blowing, and breakers tripping, this is typically a sign the electric panel is not keeping up with your electric demands.

A safety concern with older electric panels is the fact that the circuit breaker may not detect an overload, short circuit or ground fault which can result in an electrical fire or a shock hazard. You can read more about electric panel upgrades here.

A house rewire involved the old wiring be removed and new wiring being installed. An electric panel upgrade may also be included. If some of the wirings are safe and usable, a partial rewire will suffice. The electrical system may be safe and only need to be grounded.  

When Does a Home Need to be Rewired?

The following points will help you determine if your Tampa Bay house needs home rewiring.

• If it was wired before 1950 and has not been upgraded it likely needs rewiring to replace cloth-insulated wiring.
• If the home has cloth-insulated wiring.
• If the home has knob and tube wiring. This is typical in homes built before 1935.
• If the home has aluminum wiring. This type of wiring was used in place of copper wiring during the 1960 and 70s. Aluminum wiring is a fire hazard. However, the wiring can be upgraded to make it safe at a lower cost than a complete rewire.
• If a home’s electric system is not grounded or outlets are not grounded. Grounding directs excessive electricity out of the house to prevent fires and electric shock.
• If your home does not have enough power for your needs or is lacking outlets, an upgrade will help get your home to match your needs.
• If you notice you are using several extension cords on a regular basis, you need additional outlets that may require an electrical system upgrade.
• If an electric panel is not safe, it needs to be replaced. This may or may not be part of a home rewire process.

Is Deteriorating Wiring Really a Problem?

Yes. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 67,800 fires are caused by electrical problems. Those fires resulted in 485 deaths and $868 million in property damage. Home electrical wiring accounts for twice as many fires as electrical appliances.

How Do You Know What Kind of Wiring You Have?

You can compare exposed wiring or wiring at the electric panel to pictures of knob and tube and cloth wiring to help you determine what kind of wiring you have. Determining whether or not you have aluminum wiring is not as easy and will require a professional Tampa Electrician. Your wiring should be inspected every 10 years. If you are unsure about the kind of wiring you have, call an electrician at Team Electric and schedule an Electrical Safety Inspection.