-It’s a surprise to learn that an “older home” isn’t necessarily a beautiful old Victorian built in 1900 or that old log farmhouse that’s been in the family since the covered wagon days; the real estate industry considers a home built before 1970 to be an “older home.” Electricraft, Inc. the San Luis Obispo electrical wiring professionals, reports that older homes may have some wiring and power insufficiencies that may be problematic.
In 2017 the U.S. Census Bureau reported that half of the homes in the United States were built before 1980 and 40-percent were built before 1970. From the electricity standpoint, these dates are significant because it’s around the time that electrical technology moved towards grounding and outlet placement and other wiring advancements. Homed built after 1980 began incorporating electrical technologies to add safety features and to provide adequate power supply for newer appliances and electronics.
the San Luis Obispo electrical wiring professionals report that some of the common issues that can become problems include:
- Old fuse boxes instead of breaker panels. Breaker panels were introduced in the 1960s but some older homes still have fuse boxes, which don’t have the capacity to power today’s modern appliances.
- Not enough outlets, causing residents to resort to extension cords and power strips to provide electricity for lighting, electronics and various appliances.
- Outlets weren’t grounded before 1965 and houses built before then may not have three-prong grounded outlets, or may not have enough. Grounding helps protect appliances and electronics from damage and people from electrical shock.
- Lack of ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacles. A GFCI is a protective device designed to break the circuit when there is an imbalance between incoming and outgoing current. The GFCI outlet prevents electrical wiring and receptacles from overheating, starting a fire and minimizing the risk of shock and burns. GFCI receptacles have been required in houses since 1971.
- If an older home has been partially remodeled it may have a mix of old and newer wiring, with older wiring supplying one section of the home and the new wiring supplying another.
- Homes built before 1950 may still have the old knob and tube wiring, with less substantial wires and protective insulation.
- Older wiring needs space for heat to dissipate and the tendency to add energy saving insulation to the walls can lead to overheating and fires.
If you own, or are considering, buying an older home, the San Luis Obispo electrical wiring company recommends inspecting the electrical system to identify any potential problems.
Electrical wiring encompasses everything from the wiring in a lamp that plugs into a wall outlet, to the correct wiring and outlets for household appliances and complex cabling and conduit systems for large commercial, industrial, and public infrastructure electrical needs. Whether the wiring is for a single home, an apartment complex, a hospital, or commercial complex with several buildings, or a municipal water treatment plant, the Electricraft team has the training, certifications and licenses for every aspect of electrical wiring, including installing and troubleshooting.
Serving the Central Coast community since 1984, the focus at Electricraft, Inc. is to provide superior quality service, repair and construction to our customers complete satisfaction to our customers for the long term.
Electricraft, Inc.
200 Suburban Rd., Suite A
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
(805) 544-8224
