Whole-home rewiring sounds like a fairly dramatic choice. However, there are plenty of scenarios where the best and most cost-effective option might be to redo all of the wiring in your house. If you’re wondering whether it’s time to rewire your entire home, consider the following factors.
The Age of the Wiring
If you have a house that was built before 1960, there is a risk that it has knob-and-tube wiring. This style of wiring is significantly more dangerous than modern wiring, and some insurers consider a house with knob-and-tube wiring to be uninsurable. Other insurers will cover such a house, but only with a policy that has noticeably higher premiums, typically 50% or more.
There is a good possibility that a homeowner rewired the house between its construction and your purchase. However, you should always assume the opposite until proven otherwise. Our electricians can check for knob-and-tube wiring. If any is found in your home, then the assumption is that the entire building needs rewiring.
Houses built between 1950 and 1980 have another risk: aluminum wiring was a common feature during this era. Aluminum wire has a dramatically higher fire risk, and it also tends to lose efficiency quickly due to corrosion. If your house was built in this era, or if you suspect it has aluminum wiring, ask us to check. Once again, whole-house rewiring is assumed if there is aluminum wiring.
Electrical Load Capacity
A home’s electrical wiring capacity tends to correlate with its overall load capacity. This is because the wiring usually matches the circuit breakers in terms of amperage. Unfortunately, this also means that a house with a limited electrical panel likely has fairly limited wiring.
A house with a 100-amp panel is likely below the capacity needed for modern living. This is because systems like HVACs, refrigerators, electric stoves, and EV chargers can easily exceed the 100-amp capacity. We strongly recommend that modern households have at least 200 amps of capacity. Note that upgrading the panel to this level will likely entail redoing the wiring to support the added capacity.
You will likely notice if your house has capacity issues. For example, you might start laundry, begin cooking a meal, and then experience a power outage when the HVAC kicks on. Upgrading a home’s HVAC is another situation where it may become clear that the electrical capacity isn’t sufficient for the job.
Rewiring is usually necessary in this scenario to support higher-capacity circuits. Some modern appliances, HVAC systems, and EV chargers may draw as much as 40 to 50 amps. If a house is only wired with 15- and 20-amp circuits, adding higher-capacity systems to those circuits introduces a major fire hazard. Fortunately, wiring with better ratings and insulation is available.
Additionally, it isn’t uncommon for houses with low amperage capacity to have limited wiring. Additional wiring and circuits may be necessary to support new appliances. For instance, if you have always wanted a large freezer for storing food from bulk buying, hunting, or fishing, you may need a new circuit to support the freezer.
Deterioration of Wiring
Even the most modern wiring systems, equipped with good insulation, high capacities, and quality copper, will eventually deteriorate. The heat generated by the wires can slowly degrade them. Rodent damage is another common cause of wiring problems. Corrosion can occur at connections, and even vibrations over decades can loosen these connections, leading to increased heating and further deterioration.
Deteriorated electrical wiring often shows signs of trouble. Lights on a particular circuit may start to dim or flicker. The motors in large appliances like the washer and dryer may struggle to power up as quickly. You could even see a loss of efficiency reflected in a growing electric bill. Especially if your house is older than 20 years, checking for deterioration should be part of the regular inspection process.
While it is possible to simply target the affected circuits, we recommend whole-house rewiring. You will have peace of mind knowing that all the wiring in your house is of the same age. If previous homeowners have replaced the wiring piecemeal, it is difficult to determine the current state of the wiring. Even if they had previously performed a whole-house rewire, there is a strong possibility that if one section is failing, others will fail in the coming years.
Grounding and Circuit Interrupters
Modern electrical codes require houses to have grounding systems. Likewise, they should have outlets with ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) near water sources, such as the kitchen and bathroom. Additionally, all outdoor outlets must have GFCIs.
Another popular safety system is the arc-fault circuit interrupter (AFCI). AFCIs detect changes in electrical flow that indicate arcing in the wiring. This is a strong sign of potential fire and shock hazards. With AFCIs and properly supported wiring in the walls, you can have greater confidence that the system will cut off a circuit with a shorted wire.
Proper grounding not only makes your house code-compliant, but it also enhances safety. You should inform your insurer when you perform these upgrades and related rewiring, as you may be entitled to a lower rate.
Additionally, never assume that just because a house has grounding, it is still in good shape. Soil conditions around the ground rod can change. Likewise, the ground rod itself and its wiring will eventually deteriorate. Our electricians can quickly check the current condition of your home’s grounding system.
Storm Damage
A home’s wiring can suffer damage from major storms. Nearby lightning strikes are particularly notorious for causing trouble in electrical systems. Even a strike within half a mile of your house can impart enough energy to melt wires. If there has been a recent lightning strike near your house, it is a good idea to have us test the condition of the wiring and other systems.
If we detect damaged wiring, a whole-home rewire may be the best option. This ensures that you have fewer affected wires that might still have issues, in addition to the ones that melted through.
Home Upgrades
Finally, whole-home rewiring is worth considering when you remodel or add on to your home. Foremost, it is a good opportunity to rewire while you’re thinking about it. Second, most renovations occur after a house has aged at least a couple of decades. Third, local codes may require upgrades during a remodel if the rest of the wiring isn’t compliant.
Air Control Home Services has been helping the residents of Lake Havasu City, Mohave County, and the surrounding areas with their electrical needs since 1990. Our company is fully licensed, and we bring considerable expertise to every project. We are a family business with deep roots in the community as well. Homeowners trust us because we have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and our ratings on multiple platforms like Google, Facebook, Angi, and Yelp are also impressive.
If you believe that your Lake Havasu City residence is due for whole-home rewiring, reach out to Air Control Home Services today.
