Residential wiring lasts a long time, but it doesn't last forever. If problems develop with your wiring, such as flickering lights or tripping circuit breakers, call an electrician to take a look. Here's when you may need your residential wiring replaced.
When Your Wiring Has Damage From Rodents
If you've had a rodent infestation, the wiring in your home may be damaged. Rodents like to gnaw on things, and that includes the insulation around your wiring. When bare wiring is exposed, it's an electrical and fire hazard.
If the wiring is aluminum wiring or decades old, the electrician may recommend replacing it in areas where rodents were active, such as in the attic and behind your walls. If the wiring is fairly new, and the damage is minor, the electrician might repair the damaged wiring instead.
When You're Renovating And Need New Outlets
If you have outdated residential wiring, it may still be legal since you're not required to update your home to current codes until you renovate. If you hire an electrician to work on your electrical system and wiring, they may need to do major updates, such as replacing old wiring, to bring the job up to current codes. Your electrician will let you know what to expect with any mandatory upgrades so you can fit them into your budget if they're needed.
When You Want To Replace Aluminum Wiring
Aluminum wiring was phased out, and copper wiring is used in modern homes. If you've heard bad things about aluminum wiring, you may want to replace it. You can hire an electrician to put in all new residential wiring in your existing home or as part of a renovation. However, your electrician may talk to you about a possible alternative.
A big problem with old aluminum residential wiring is that it expands and contracts so much that it makes the connections get loose. An electrician might decide crimping copper to the ends of the wiring at the connections would be a good repair solution so all of the wiring doesn't have to be replaced.
When You're Building A Home Addition
When you build an addition or finish a basement or garage, you'll need an electrician to plan the layout of the new wiring and install it. New wiring in an addition needs to be up to current codes, so if there will be a bathroom or laundry room, they will need GFCI outlets.
Codes may also stipulate how many outlets are required and how far apart they should be. The electrician is familiar with codes so you don't have to worry about learning them unless it helps you plan where to place your new outlets.
To learn more, contact a company like Moss Contracting.
Share27 May 2022
When you hear the word "electrician," what comes to mind? Some people imagine a contractor holding a sparking wire in their hands. But in fact, electricians do their best to avoid sparking and zapping anything. They spent a lot of time learning how to avoid such issues as they can be dangerous, leading to fires and injuries. Electricians do work hard to run wires through homes, install outlets, and mount lights. The just aim to do so without zapping anyone! If you'd like to learn more about electricians and their work, then you're invited to read the articles on this blog.
