Electrical Safety in Your Older Home
Home electrical problems contribute to a large number of the nation’s house fires, causing damage to property, health issues, injuries and even death. Today, our dependence on electricity is only increasing and with many homes built before the 2000s, you’ll realise that they were constructed before many of the electronics and appliances that we use today were even invented. Unfortunately, this means that our increased demands for energy can overburden an older home’s electrical system causing fires, electrocutions and other damages or injuries. Let’s have a look at what else could cause electrical safety hazards in your older home.
Deteriorating Cables
Electrical installation processes have changed a lot over the years. In some older homes, electrical wiring was covered in lead, rubber and cotton which is no longer used due to safety hazards. The rubber insulation would deteriorate over time, leaving the cable exposed and therefore likely to cause electrical fires or shock. Even homes built today need regular electrical maintenance after a few years to function properly and eventually will need to be replaced.
Faulty Outlets
Can you believe that some homes still have outlets with only two prong holes? This means they are missing the hole for a ground wire which increases your chance of electrical shock – even though most appliances in Australia these days won’t even plug into them because they have three prongs! You might also find you have trouble plugging into the outlet. In older homes, where protective shutters or child safety features were not as common, this may mean that there is an obstruction. Any obstructions can become an electrical hazard so it’s best to call a professional electrician to check it out safely.
Old Light Fixtures
Flickering lights aren’t just annoying – they’re also dangerous! They can develop loose wiring which turns into a potential fire hazard. Dated fixtures can easily also short out or stop working completely, further indicating the need to update components of the lighting system. Our recommendation at North Lakes & Surrounds Electrical is to update any light fixtures that are more than 10 years old.
Outdated Breakers
A circuit breaker is an electrical switch designed to protect your house from electrical hazards and fires. Essentially, the circuit breaker interrupts and stops the flow of electricity after protective relays detect a fault. This can be anything from an overloaded circuit (running too many appliances at once that your circuit can’t handle) or a short circuit (where the electrical current bypasses the appliances and can cause electrical shocks). In older homes, you may not even have a circuit breaker, however, most older homes are just not equipped to carry the electrical load of our modern technological world. This can easily be upgraded by our team at North Lakes & Surrounds Electrical.
Contact us
If you live in an older home, it’s best to keep up with regular scheduled maintenance services with your local electrician at North Lakes & Surrounds Electrical. We can ensure everything is up to code and suggest further services when necessary. To prevent a fire in your home’s electrical system, take the time to update your electrical panel and replace outdated electrical wiring. Whether you’ve been living in your home for years or you’re looking at purchasing an older property, our team can investigate the state of your electrical system to ensure it’s safe for daily use. For more information, contact us today on (07) 3053 3118.
