No one likes the prospect of rewiring their home, which is just one reason that can get kicked far down the road so often.
While it can be tempting to keep saying “soon,” the reality of what’s behind your walls only gets worse.
At JJB Electrical Ltd, Waltham Cross, we know the ins and outs of house rewiring. So, you just have to read on to discover the answer to all of your rewiring questions.
What Happens if I Don’t Rewire my Home?
Potential Dangers: Little zaps can turn to electric shocks as potentially dangerous becomes a fire hazard. Faulty wiring isn’t just a matter of renovations and general upkeep; it can also be very dangerous, causing an estimated 12,500 fires and 750 serious accidents in the home each year.
Wasted money: Poorly wired homes tend to “hemorrhage” electricity. As the system requires more energy to keep your home running, it also puts more pressure on your main’s board, which in turn, adds figures to your electricity bill.
Wasted Time: Are you constantly tending to your fuse board, fixing light bulbs, and wondering why your lights don’t appear to be right? These are all the results of faulty wiring, meaning you could invest your time in better things if only you got the house rewired.
At JJB Electrical LTD, we provide our services to the Waltham Cross area, offering qualified and experienced local electricians that know how to rewire your home to perfection. A common question we receive from our customers, is...
"How Often Should I Rewire My Home?"
Ideally, you should rewire your house at least once after 50 years but this is dependent on the health of the cabling and regular maintenance and testing. However, this is only a general estimation. Other signs may trigger a house rewire, including frayed cables, tripping fuses, and flickering or dimming lights. So, if you notice any unusual occurrences in your home’s electrical system, it’s definitely time to start thinking “where’s an electrician near me?”
Signs a Home Needs Rewiring...
Flickering & Dimming Lights
One of the first signs that faulty wiring is afoot is a light that seems “off.” If you notice your home’s light is looking a little darker than usual or flicking on and off, it’s time to consider rewiring. If your wiring is loose or outdated, this can lead to a phenomenon known as arcing, where the electrical current ‘jumps’ between gaps in the connection, creating a potential fire hazard.
Side note: You may also notice that you’re running through light bulbs at an increasingly rapid rate. If there is loose wiring in the wall outlet or hardwire connection, it could be causing short circuits or small electrical surges. This can burn out bulbs quickly and could be a fire hazard as well.
Sockets aren’t Working
If one or more of your home’s sockets has stopped working, there are several possible causes, one of the most common being a flipped switch on your home’s circuit board. Loose connections within the circuit breaker box should also be considered. Another common cause, also relating to faulty rewiring, is failed internal socket connections, which are common in older models. After troubleshooting, if the socket still isn’t working, it’s best to not tamper with the socket. You can reasonably assume that the issue lies within your home’s wires.
If you notice your sockets becoming scorched or discoloured, a rewiring is well overdue.
Sparking Outlets
A sparking outlet can give us pause for thought, but most brush it off as a natural side effect of plugging in devices from time to time. Here’s why that’s not the case:
Outlet sparks are caused during the brief moment when a plug and outlet are nearly connected, and the electrical current crosses the gap, creating a spark. These sparks tend to get worse with time, and can potentially ignite nearby objects, leading to a fire.
There are several potential causes of sparking outlets, such as:
- Short circuits.
- Hidden leaks.
- Overloaded outlets.
- Worn-out electrical components.
- Outlets not properly installed or repaired.
What Can Be Done?
While a brief, odourless spark shouldn’t worry you, it’s time to contact an electrician if you see a spark that has one or more of these characteristics:
- It lingers and fizzles, as opposed to briefly flashing.
- It’s noticeably white or yellow, as opposed to blue.
- Large sparks. Large sparks point to abnormal electrical output or interference, which may be a sign of structural damage.
- Accompanied by a burning smell.
If you notice any of the above warning signs, there’s a team of electricians at JJB Electrical Ltd, Waltham Cross that can take care of it so you don’t have to.
Electrical shocks
When a home’s electrical components are faulty or malfunctioning, electric shocks become a possibility. Outlets and switches receive their electrical currents through a box, further connected to wiring. If any screw or wiring is loose on the box, wiring, or outlet/switch, electricity becomes unstable.
Burning Smells
If you’ve noticed a persistent smoky smell and can’t determine the cause, it’s likely coming from behind your walls. With old wiring, electrical shorts can occur between wires within our walls. The excessive heat produced by the short can singe the plastic covers on outlets and switches. A burning smell near an outlet is an indication of the slow beginnings of an electrical fire.
Circuit Breakers Tripping
A circuit trip is when the circuit’s internal sensor becomes overheated, and the breaker shuts off the power to prevent further overheating. When a circuit trips, it’s likely overloaded with electricity from too many appliances or could be the fault of worn wiring.
Rewiring my home Made Easy
If you’re now wondering, “where’s an electrician near me?” we’ve got the answer. At JJB Electrical Ltd, we have a team of Waltham Cross electricians that can turn their hand to any home, business, or premises rewiring job.
From start to finish, our expert local electricians remove old wiring and install new electrical wiring alongside all related components, ensuring you don’t have to lift a finger.
Our electricians work fast, diligently, and strive to accommodate your unique needs at all times, guaranteeing reliability and quality that lasts. For more information on our rewiring services, contact our friendly team today.
