Common Electrical Problems In Older Homes

Common Electrical Problems In Older Homes

Did you know that almost 60% of all hospitalisations due to electricity and air pressure were caused by exposure to electric currents? Exposure to electric currents can cause shocks in your body and either result in slight pain or a burn or, in extreme cases, it can stop your heartbeat and make you unconscious.

Therefore, ensuring your home's electrical wiring is safe and grounded and has no loose currents is important. This is especially necessary due to the number of appliances in your home nowadays, like washing machines, dishwashers, ovens, air conditioners, mobile phones and televisions.

If you are living in an older house that was made 50 to 100 years ago, the electrical system was not built for such a load, and thus, you must call an electrician in Australia to rewire your system. Here are some common electrical problems you might find if you are living in an older home and how you can resolve them:

1. Overlamping

What It Means?

If your electrical fixture has a bulb with a higher wattage than what the fixture is made for, it is called overlamping.

Danger level

The danger level is high in overlapping as the high-wattage bulb can melt the socket and destroy the wires' insulation. This will expose the wires and cause arcing, where sparks between the wires could ultimately lead to a fire.

Solution

Even if you remove the bulb from the socket, the wires and insulation could still be damaged, so it is better to hire a professional electrician in Australia to repair and replace the socket and insulation. You must also only use a wattage compatible with the fixture or a 60-watt bulb on unmarked fixtures.

2. Open Junction Boxes

What does it mean?

A junction box contains a network of wires connected.

Danger level

If the wires are not within reach, the danger level is moderate in such cases.

Solution

You must practice electrical safety tips and avoid touching live wires in the junction box. You can also call an electrician in Australia to install a cover for this box or do it on your own using safety measures.

3. Flickering Lights

What does it mean?

You might have loose or corroded wires that are not insulated and will thus come in contact with each other and cause sparking and eventually lead to electrical fires.

Danger level

It is very dangerous to have flickering lights as the wires are constantly arcing and causing sparks that could lead to a full-blown fire.

Solution

You should hire a professional electrician in Australia to check your wires and replace them so that there is proper insulation.

4. Limited Power Outlets

What it means?

In older housing, there were fewer appliances, and thus there were limited power outlets as well. But due to the variety of modern electrical appliances, you might use power extension cords and strips to manage all your appliances.

Danger level

The danger is high if you use undersized extension cords of 16-gauge where the wire is thin. These wires can get overheated and cause a fire.

Solution

You can avoid this situation by using power chords and extensions with 14-gauge or thicker wires and thus will not get overheated with your multiple appliances. You can also ask a certified electrician to install more power outlets so that you are using only a few extension chords and strips. Also, switch to energy-efficient appliances that use less energy and thus automatically lower your electricity use.

5. No Ground-Fault Circut Interrupters

What does it mean?

In normal circuit interrupters, the chances of an electrical current are high. But a ground-fault circuit interrupter stops the circuit in 4 milliseconds so that there is no transmission of any electric current. This is especially useful in areas with lots of moisture in your homes, like bathrooms and kitchens.

Danger level

If you do not have ground-fault circuit interrupters, you are at a greater risk of electrical shocks.

Solution

It would be best if you replaced your old interrupters with ground-fault circuit interrupters, and you can install this on the main panel itself to protect all your electrical outlets.

6. Tripping Circuit Breakers

What does it mean?

Your old home might have outdated circuits and be unable to handle the load of all the appliances. This will cause short circuits and fuses and can lead to a fire.

Danger level

These outdated circuits can keep fusing and cause a major fire in the future.

Solution

You must contact an expert electrician in Australia to install new circuits and upgrade your switchboards so that they can handle a load of all your appliances without fusing.

Conclusion

Old housing was built keeping in mind the power usage then, but it may not be sufficient for the number of electrical appliances that you have in today's age. Therefore you will need to get new outlets, upgrade your switchboards and circuits and ground your circuit interrupters to protect you and your family from electric shocks. It is also a good idea to switch to more energy-efficient appliances to keep your home safe and reduce your electric bills.