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How to Fix Common Older Home Electrical Issues

How to Fix Common Older Home Electrical Issues

You bought a charming old house with history, character, and possibly some “quirky” electrical issues. You may be dreaming of hardwood floors and clawfoot tubs, but your electrical system may be planning blown fuses, flickering lights, and switches that spark too much. Lucky for you, Fourteen Electrical specializes in keeping your vintage home safe and modern without losing its charm. Let's discuss older home electrical issues and how to fix them before they fix you!

Retro Wiring, Modern Pain

While the knob-and-tube wiring is interesting, it's better suited for a museum than powering modern appliances. Antique electrical systems, found in pre-1950s homes, couldn't manage modern loads. These circuits can soon create fire hazards when used for several devices.

  • Solution: Eliminate knob-and-tube. Old wiring must be replaced for safety and peace of mind. Fourteen Electrical can rewire your home with safer, more efficient wiring without damaging your walls or wallpaper. Our goal? Maintaining your home's uniqueness while increasing safety.

Vacationing Fuse Boxes and Circuit Breakers

If your home's electrical system employs a fuse box, turning on the blender may require replacing blown fuses. Overloading circuits in older homes is common because they lack enough circuit breakers. Let's face it—juggling which appliance can run when is no fun.

  • Solution: Upgrade now! With a contemporary electrical panel and enough circuit breakers, you can power any room in your home. Fourteen Electrical specializes in panel modifications that enhance house value and convenience you never knew you wanted.

Flickering Lights: Not Ambience

Avoid flickering lights unless you want a “haunted house” vibe. This often indicates loose wiring or overloaded circuits, which can be dangerous if neglected.

  • Solution: Fourteen Electrical glows (literally). Our experts can find the problem, whether it's a loose connection, defective fixture, or overloaded circuit. We can stabilize your lights and spare you horror movie situations with a few easy changes.

Unground Outlets, Vintage Style, Modern Risk

Grounding is needed to prevent electrical surges, yet two-prong plugs in older homes are cute but lack it. You risk frying gadgets and getting shocked by a power surge without it.

  • Solution: We'll replace your two-prong plugs with grounded three-prong outlets to protect your home from electrical surges and increase device life. Additionally, GFCI outlets in restrooms and kitchens minimize moisture-related shocks. We'll keep your home's vintage beauty while making it safer.

Missing GFCI Outlets: More Than Code Violation

Bathrooms, kitchens, basements…anywhere with moisture needs GFCI outlets. Older homes may not have safety outlets, increasing the risk of electric shocks when using equipment near water.

  • Solution: Fourteen Electrical can rapidly install GFCIs in your outlets. These devices prevent shocks by cutting power if they detect a current imbalance. Simple installation can save you from danger, so it's worth it.

Ready to Make Your Home Brighter and Safer?

Safety-risky electrical issues shouldn't be tolerated in older homes. Fourteen Electrical can modernize your property without sacrificing its old-school charm by replacing wiring, changing electrical panels, or grounding outlets. Our qualified electricians combine technical skill with respect for your home's charm to give you the beauty of the past and the safety of the present. Why wait until your lights flicker or fuses blow? Contact Fourteen Electrical today to make your gorgeous home more powerful (in all the right ways)!