electrical

Problems with old wiring

Posted on by K and M Maintenance

Whenever you move into a new property, you can never be sure of the quality, or the age of the wiring. Unless you hire a professional electrician to implement an electrical inspection condition report. Even if you have a survey conducted, the chances are old, out dated, or faulty wiring will not be discovered. So what are the signs of old wiring? And if you do discover your home has old wiring, is it a huge problem? Well, here at K and M Maintenance, we are Preston’s leading domestic electrical company. As a result, we have produced this guide to the problems with old wiring.

Problems with old wiring

Old wiring can bring a series of issues and potential dangers. These can include:

  • Wear and tear- over time, wiring systems will be worn down simply through extended use. And this can lead to exposed wiring, and a lack of insulation. This is a serious risk for electrical fires and electric shocks. As exposed wiring can lead to sparking.
  • Faulty connections- just as the wiring itself can break down, so can the connections. This can lead to current jumping or sparking across small gaps in the circuitry and is a serious risk for your home and family.
  • Unprofessional modifications- If you own a home that was build before the 1930’s, the chances are, there will have been some modifications made to your circuits. Electrical work was a DIY hero in the 30’s up to the 70’s. And it is not uncommon to find homes with modified circuits that have not been fitted professionally. And this leads to a range of issues including loose wires, short circuits and unconnected live wires.

Identifying old wiring

So how do you know your homes wiring is old or outdated? Well here are some tips:

  • if your wires are solid green, black and red, your property hasnt been rewired since the 1970’s.
  • if your wires are encased in a black, tough rubber your property hasnt been rewired since the 1960’s

If you have old wiring in your property, it might be time for a rewire. For your safety, and the efficiency of your property. Why not give us a call, here at K and M Maintenance.