Rewiring an old house can seem like a big challenge. Older homes often need comprehensive rewiring especially when their existing wiring no longer meets building codes. Yet, no matter if a home is 50 years old or 150, it’s important to work closely with a licensed electrician throughout this process. A small mistake or a forgotten area of the home could lead to costly mistakes later.
Why Rewiring an Old House Matters
Older homes can be full of electrical hazards. Many times, the need to rewire comes from two areas. First, you need to be sure the home is safe and electrical systems are working as they should. Second, you need to upgrade the home’s existing electrical system to meet modern needs and electrical capacity requirements. That’s not always easy to do.
Tips to Get Started with Rewiring an Old House
To upgrade old house wiring, there are several key considerations. This is where you need to start with the help of a licensed electrician. Here’s the process:
- Start with the upgrade to an electrical panel. The main service panel is the heart of the electrical system and usually needs to be the primary update for the home as a first step. If this area isn’t modernized, it will lead to limitations throughout the system.
- Consider appliances. The next important step is to focus on meeting the demands of the largest appliances on the system. Dedicated circuits in the service panel should be a secondary focus. This ensures appliances are running properly.
- Place and monitor outlets through the home. As a rule, it is best to place them every six to eight feet along the major rooms of the home. The goal with rewiring an old house is to eliminate the need for extension cords.
- Upgrade to three-prong outlets. Whenever there is a need to upgrade outlets, install three-prong style outlets whenever possible. This will minimize the risk of electrical shock.
- Upgrade to GFCI in water-prone areas. All areas where water is present, such as the kitchen and bathroom, should have GFCI outlets installed. These automatically shut off to prevent shock when they get wet.
Your home’s needs will be unique and will require its own plan of action. In some cases, rewiring the whole home becomes necessary. In other cases, that’s not needed.
Specifics to Your Home
Rewiring an old house starts with an estimate from an experienced electrician. Each home will have quirks, including unique fixtures, outlet needs, and wiring complications. By working with a trusted, local, and experienced electrician that specializes in rewiring of older homes, you minimize the risks to your property in the long term and ensure your home remains as functional as it needs to be for your modern lifestyle.
Contact our friendly team of experts at Bryan Electric, Inc., today to ask your questions before you begin rewiring an old house.