Blog Layout

Does Your Home Need Rewiring? | Anderson Electric in NJ
admin • September 2, 2019

Get in Touch With us Today!

wires-and-breakers

The leading cause of electrical fires in homes is from the insulation around electrical wires—particularly older wiring. Because of the increased demand placed on wires in due to the larger electrical load of newer appliances, older wires can become too hot and cause the insulation to catch fire. These fires can quickly spread to building materials.

You may need to call an electrician in Nutley, NJ to extensively rewire your house to improve its safety. Below we’ve listed some of the ways to tell that you may need rewiring. Pay close attention, since a proper rewiring reduces significantly the chance of a house fire.

Have an electrician inspect the house

We’ll start with the shortcut to finding out if you need the house rewired. When you call a licensed electrician for an inspection, you’ll receive an expert answer about the condition of the wiring in your house and if it needs to be upgraded. Even if the wiring is still in good shape and not a significant danger, an inspection may still locate smaller problem areas in the wiring, outlets, etc. We recommend home wiring inspections every few years.

The age of the house

The simplest gauge of the condition of a house’s wiring is how long the house has been around. In general, a home that’s older than 50 years that’s never had any rewiring done is due for it. There are many homes of this vintage—and far older—in Northern Jersey. In fact, many homes still have antiquated knob-and-tube wiring. We’re a specialist in replacing this hazardous type of wiring.

The circuit breaker trips often

You shouldn’t have to make regular trips to the home’s electrical panel to reset tripped breakers. When this is a frequent problem, it warns that the wiring is struggling with the current electrical load. Even if your house doesn’t need to be rewired, have an electrician investigate the continually tripping breaker to find out if there is another repair need somewhere in the house.

The house has knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring

We’ve already mentioned knob-and-tube wiring, which is easy to visually identify because of the distinctive porcelain knobs use to hold up the wires. Aluminum wires were installed between 1965 and 1973, and because their connections can fail and start fires, they are considered hazards. If your home was constructed between those years, check to see if there is an “AL” on the wiring insulation—this means the wiring is aluminum.

Burning smells around the house

An acrid odor you can’t trace? Don’t ignore it! This electrical burning smell is warning that there are shorts in the electrical system. Check the outlets and light switches in the house to see if there is any discoloration along them, indicating an electrical fire behind the plate. If you don’t see anything, then the shorts may be happening in the walls. Either way, have an electrician into your house to examine the problem and see if you need rewiring.

You can trust us with this big, important job: we have more than 20 years of experience upgrading local homes to the highest safety levels.

Anderson Electric Corp. serves Northern Jersey. Call us for a free estimate. Safety–Dependability–Service.

Electrician inspecting a home's wiring to ensure it can support an air conditioning system in NJ.
By George Anderson March 9, 2025
Ensure your home's wiring can handle your AC this summer. Avoid breaker trips & fire hazards with expert wiring repair in New Jersey from Anderson Electric.
An electrician inspecting an electrical panel in a residential home.
By George Anderson February 26, 2025
Is your electrical panel outdated or causing issues? Learn when it's time for a new electrical panel installation. Schedule an inspection with Anderson Electric today!
Woman Checking Electricity Bill Turning out the Lights at Home
By George Anderson January 17, 2025
Discover how a heat pump can reduce your energy usage by up to 60% while keeping your home comfortable year-round. Contact Anderson Electric for expert installation in Verona.
Father and daughter next to colorful holiday lights in a New Jersey home.
By George Anderson December 23, 2024
Ensure safe holiday lighting! Learn how to avoid fire risks and electrical overload with tips from a West Orange electrician. Protect your home this season.
Electrician upgrading a residential electrical panel to handle modern power demands.
By George Anderson November 7, 2024
Discover why upgrading your electrical system is crucial for EV charging, safety, and powering modern appliances. Learn about efficient upgrades from Anderson Electric Corp.
An electrical short in an outlet.
By George Anderson October 17, 2024
Experiencing burning smells, frequent breaker trips, or buzzing sounds? Learn when to call an electrician in Montclair to ensure your home’s safety.
Show More
Share by: