Old homes have a vintage appeal and unique charm that make them a great choice for many home buyers. The added appeal of having ancient architecture is another reason why a lot of people go for old homes. Also, some older ones go for lower prices when compared to modern ones. These are all great advantages of purchasing an old home. There are however certain cons that might exist if the home is not maintained properly. One of the areas in which you might encounter problems is with outdated electrical systems. This article highlight signs to look out for, when examining the electrical system of an old home.
Common Signs That The Electrical System Is Outdated
An outdated electrical system might look perfectly okay if you do not know what signs to look out for. Below are common signs to check.
- Exposed Wiring: Exposed wiring is very dangerous and can lead to serious issues in the home. Exposed wires can cause the electrical system to malfunction, or even worse result in house fires. It is not likely that you will find exposed wires in the main areas of the home, rather pay attention to areas such as the attic and basement. Finding exposed wiring in any of these areas is a red flag which you must take seriously.
- Two-Prong Outlets: While you might see nothing wrong with them, two-prong outlets are outdated and might cause serious problems for you as time goes on. For one, they cause inconvenience of having to use an adapter whenever you need to plug in an appliance or device that three prongs. Another problem is that these outlets have no ground. Ground refers to the third part of a plug that helps to protect the appliance from power surges. Therefore, with a two-prong outlet, your appliance is prone to the risk of getting burnt.
- Absence of GFCI Outlets: One thing that is ever present in most modern electrical systems, is GFCI outlets in wet rooms. Wet rooms refers to areas of the home that gets more humidity than others such as the bathroom and kitchen. These GFCI outlets act as circuit breakers, tripping the electric current in the case that there is a surge. Such outlets are important in wet rooms, as electrical surge can result in shock.
- Knob and Tube Wiring: Knob and tube wiring is not the most reliable as a lot of homeowners carry out DIY repairs on them. As a matter of fact, most insurance companies do not insures home with this type of wiring. It is therefore best to check and be sure that the old home that you want to purchase does not have knob and tube wiring.
If you want to purchase an old home, an electrical inspection goes a long in ensuring that the electrical system is functioning properly. If any defect is spotted, it can be fixed through an electrical upgrade. Contact a Sydney electrician for electrical system inspection.
