Electrical Upgrades for Older Homes: Modernizing Your Wiring

If you live in an older home, you know that they can be charming, but they also require a lot of upkeep! However, have you considered whether you need to modernize your wiring? Many older homes have wiring that is no longer considered up to code.

Upgrading Electrical Wiring in Older Homes

You’ve probably heard of the idea that if you have an older home, you should seriously consider getting the wiring upgraded. Still, you may not actually know why this is so important. These are the three main reasons that it’s crucial to have up-to-date wiring:

1. Older wiring systems may not be able to keep up with increased demands for power. It used to be that you’d only have some major appliances and lights that need power. Now, you likely have computers and several mobile devices, too, that need charging!

2. Old knob-and-tube wiring can be dangerous and may invalidate your insurance policy.

3. Out-of-date wiring can pose a serious fire hazard.

Indications That Your Home Needs an Electrical Upgrade 

You may have already seen signs in your home that you need an electrical upgrade. These are 5 of the most common signs that you need to reach out to a professional Mississauga electrician about getting an electrical upgrade: 

1. Your circuit breaker is constantly tripping, or you keep blowing a fuse.

2. The lights in your house are always dimming or flickering, and replacing the bulb doesn’t fix the issue.

3. Your outlets have a yellowish tinge to them that doesn’t go away if you clean the outlet. This can be a sign that there is something wrong with your outlet (for example, it’s ungrounded) and that you need to get it replaced immediately!

4. You touch a light switch, and it is warm. This can be a sign there’s a problem with your wiring.

5. You are using too many power strips or extension cords and risk overloading a circuit. A qualified Mississauga electrician can talk to you about installing extra outlets.

How to Modernize Your Home’s Electrical Wiring

Now that you’re thinking about modernizing your home’s electrical wiring, you must decide what approach to take. Do you simply want to make sure everything is up to code and there’s no risk of an electrical fire, or do you want to make some enhancements to your home as well? Here are some options to consider:

1. Upgrade your electrical panel. This will make it more robust and able to handle increased power demands.

2. Install three-pronged outlets if you don’t have any, or add more outlets to high-traffic locations.

3. Install ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) outlets in places like your kitchen and bathroom. GFCI outlets turn off the power when they get wet, which is a great safety feature!

4. Upgrade or replace your light switches. Some options are to add a dimmer function or install motion sensors.

These are just some of the options to consider when upgrading your wiring. Talk to a qualified electrician to learn more about all the ways you can improve your wiring.

Choosing the Right Electrician

Choosing the right electrician is the key to successfully upgrading your wiring. If you’ve never needed the services of a Mississauga electrician before, you may be feeling a bit overwhelmed and not sure where to start. These four tips will help you figure out how to choose the proper electrician:

1. Ask friends and family for recommendations, and check online reviews. This will help give you several electricians to choose from.

2. After you’ve made a short list of potential candidates, contact each of them and ask for a quote. Don’t necessarily go with the cheapest option. How a company handles your quote request will tell you a lot about them.

3. Confirm with each electrical company you contact that they are licensed and have insurance. This is critical as it ensures that you will not be on the hook for damages to either property or people if something happens during your wiring upgrade.

4. Once you’ve selected the company, be sure to get everything in writing. This includes the work you want done and the amount the company quoted.

Understanding the Benefits of Electrical Upgrades

There are several great reasons to invest in electrical upgrades beyond just ensuring that your wiring is up to code and that you’ve reduced the risk of an electrical fire. Here are some of the benefits of electrical upgrades 

●      An upgraded electrical system can help you save money in the long run by offering increased electrical efficiency. It also helps decrease your environmental impact.

●      It leads to a better quality of life for you and your family. No one wants to argue over who is going to be able to plug in their devices to charge, or keep having to reset a breaker!

●      It can increase the value of your property, as that’s one less task that a potential future owner has to worry about.

●      You can choose to have smart technology installed as part of an electrical upgrade, allowing you to control your home lighting from wherever you are.

Preserving the Charm: Modern Wiring Without Compromising Character

Are you concerned about compromising the character of your home if you upgrade the wiring? The best way to ensure you preserve the charm of your home is to look at what’s most important to you. Is it something like original woodwork or hardwood flooring? Or, perhaps it’s a feature like crown moulding.

Regardless of the feature, the best way to help preserve it is to talk to the electrician about it before they get started. They can figure out a way to add new features or upgrade your wiring that is minimally disruptive to the features you love.

The Key to Success Is Preparation 

The best thing you can do to ensure that your electrical upgrades are successfully made with minimal disruption to your life and home is to be prepared. Take the time to interview electricians and be clear on what needs to be done. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t understand what the electrician tells you.

When you’re ready to move forward, make sure you get a detailed quote in writing and ask for a timeline—both on when your electrician will be able to get started, and how long they think the job will take.