Dangers Of Old Electrical Wiring Types In Your Home

Homes built more than thirty to forty years ago are more than likely to have issues with the wiring system. The older the home and no inspections, the higher chance of the wiring system is really unsafe and ruined. These signs can indicate that the home may need to have inspection as soon as possible:

• No grounding system included in the home
• Burning smells coming from electrical devices
• Switch plates and outlets are discoloured and are warm when touched
• The insulation is cracked, damaged or missing wires and shows exposed wires
• Any splices that are wrapped in modern electrical tape, meaning they were not soldered
• Lights dimmer and flicker quite often, specially when it is windy
• Any wiring which is surrounded by some building insulation
• The circuit or fuse breakers becomes tripped on a frequent basis

Older homes built in the 1940s and earlier are more than likely to have knob and tube wiring systems. This type of wiring in your home is extremely outdated and if it has not been checked it can be really unsafe. As a result of being a wiring system with insulation tubes and knobs but no grounding systems is why it is hazardous.

The wiring itself is not unsafe but the fact that the ground faults are not present is what breaks safety standards. It is advised to inspect the home and more than likely have some grounding system installed if replacing the system completely is not possible. These are crucial for preventing accidents and deaths so having them inspected to see if they are present is a must. 

Older homes will usually have a smaller number of outlets around the home. As a result, to meet the need for the amount of electrical appliances wanting to be plugged in, extension cords are often used. However, the older homes were built to support the lower amperage usage of the time.

But now since technology has advanced and more appliances are needed, the old systems cannot keep up. With the circuit increase in the home, the old system may overload and therefore can lead to a fire. Making sure that new and proper outlets are updated to the modern rules and regulations is important. An inspection will determine how many are needed and if the current ones need to be removed or upgraded.

Insulation will deteriorate after some time no matter which system of wiring is present. With modern wiring it will last a significantly longer, however, older insulation will deteriorate quicker. Additionally, animals and other sources of damage can also have the insulation become less strong and viable.

Due to the old age or poor quality of the insulation, it is extremely unsafe and is a fire hazard. This is because the wire is opened, meaning it can cause a fire from shocks and sparks. If an animal or person happens to contact the open wire, shock and death may occur, as well as triggering an electrical fire.

Grounding systems are what protect the electrical appliances and people in a home from electrical surges. They detect the surges almost immediately and will shut off electricity to stop further and severe damage from occurring.

However, older homes will often not have these important systems installed throughout. As a result, the place is more prone to being extremely devastated from electrical surges. Moreover, people are more likely to receive painful shocks or die from the surges and appliances can be completely destroyed.

Within older homes, the reason why there can be many instances of wiring faults and electrical shorts is because of faulty wiring. Specifically loose, altered and damaged wires that are also exposed will cause these issues to happen. The chance for burns, fires and fatal accidents can happen if the wires are exposed and untouched for too long.

After many years of electrical work in the home, especially if it occurred in earlier years, there is a chance that faulty jobs happened. If this is the case, there may be a lot of unsecured connections to wiring around the home. Proper inspections are important because if there are connections or modifications with wiring that is poorly done, it can lead to fires and other accidents.

VIR (Vulcanised Indian Rubber) cables are one of the most common wiring systems installed in Australian homes. They are made up of a tinned conducted rubber and have started to become outdated as they were installed in thousands of Aussie homes between 1910 to 1950. This is of a significant concern to housing occupants, because as old VIR cables age, they can easily become a significant electrical hazard. Some risks that are associated with old electrical VIR wiring include electrocution and the potential for starting a fire within your home. It is always recommended, that if you are aware that you house currently has VIR cables, you should contact a local electrician to assess their age and condition. The Local Electrician offers electrical safety inspections and also specialises in VIR cable rewire for all our Sydney clients!