Upgrading your home’s electrical wiring more than likely doesn’t feature very highly on your to-do list. In fact, unless there’s a major electrical issue brewing, you may never even think that an upgrade is necessary.
The good news is that the local electricians Melbourne residents rely on will not only replace old and worn wiring but will also ensure that your modern electrical requirements are assessed and catered for. If you’re not sure if your home needs rewiring, keep reading.
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Understanding Your Home’s Electric Wiring
Residential house wiring refers to the various types of electrical cabling that run throughout your house to provide electrical power to your home. Electric wiring is a blanket term that can include wiring and associated components such as:
- Lighting
- Electrical appliances
- Power outlets
Australian house wiring is generally installed in ceilings, walls, and floors and is protected by a circuit breaker in your home’s switchboard. Wiring and everything associated with it are installed to be compliant with local safety codes, which may vary by region.
Modern Rewiring Reduces The Risk Of Electrical Issues
Having your home’s electrical wiring updated is always recommended, especially if you live in an older house. Our emergency electrical team have compiled a list of the crucial benefits of updating older, potentially worn wires.
1. Makes Your Home Safer
Worn or faulty wiring can be a major fire hazard, which can even result in electrical shock. This can happen when older homes still feature obsolete, fabric-sheathed wiring that’s usually surrounded by a black steel conduit. If this style of wiring is disturbed, it can result in blown fuses, which, if not dealt with, can lead to fire.
Older wiring also becomes deteriorated and worn over time. Asking your electrician to install a new wiring system will ensure that older parts are replaced by modern, energy-efficient components, which will ensure that your home’s electrical aspects are safe.
2. Enables Your Electrician To Separate Your Circuit
A key reason to upgrade your home wiring is that your electrician will be able to separate the circuits associated with crucial appliances in your home. This typically includes water heaters, home alarm systems and refrigerators.
This will ensure that these appliances are protected from electrical surges when less crucial appliances, such as kettles or irons, trip the main switch. This is a wonderful feature to have if you’re going away for the weekend and leaving food in the freezer.
3. Allows For An Upgrade
Getting your electrician to rewire your home presents the opportunity to add extra outlets for increased convenience. Older homes usually only have one outlet in a room, and with lamps, devices, and TVs, this often results in you using power strips. While these are exceptionally handy to maximise power availability in a single space, they can easily become overloaded and lead to an electrical fire.
This can happen if the power strips are left on all day and night. Avoid this by increasing the number of outlets you have in each room. You can base this on the average number of appliances or devices that you plug into that space.
4. Instantly Increases Electrical Capacity
You may not think that the wiring in your home needs much attention because it’s been holding up for years. However, the electrical components that were installed in older homes were never intended to handle the ever-increasing demands of modern technology.
A typical example of this involves homes built in the 1960s that were designed to have a 60-amp service because there weren’t that many appliances and gadgets to connect at the same time. Keep in mind that 60-amp isn’t suitable for appliances, air-conditioning units and digital devices.
Modern homes are typically built with a minimum 100-amp service. Homes that have an increased energy demand may even request an upgrade to 150 or 200 amps. Your electrician will be able to determine your exact usage needs based on the appliances, devices, and machines you are running in your home.
5. Enhances Your Home’s Potential Resale Value
It can be challenging to sell an older home or commercial property when the wiring is old and potentially worn or damaged. This is because most buyers know that they will have to spend a considerable amount of money to have the wiring updated once they have purchased the home.
You may also be required to provide proof of updated wiring before you can sell the home. This will show potential buyers that the home is not only safe but also suited to handling everything from smart security systems, extensive entertainment systems, and dimmable lighting to complex motion sensor lighting. Be proactive and upgrade your home wiring long before you place your home on the market.
Final Thoughts
When an electrician rewires your home, you’ll have the assurance that wiring, cables, and other electrical components are functioning safely and optimally. Your new, upgraded system will also be more effective at handling all your modern energy requirements. It’s as simple as scheduling an assessment with your local electrician!
