5 Signs You Need to Upgrade Your Home Electrical System

Last updated on June 17, 2024

Are you always facing electrical problems? Maybe you live in an older house?

An electrical system keeps your appliances and outlets in check. And it has quickly become essential in this modern age. While many homeowners fail to recognize the value of an electrical system until it’s too late, you might be interested to know that getting an upgrade is highly beneficial.

So the question is, how can you know when you need an upgrade?

That’s where we step in. We’ve put together a list of signs you should be aware of in order to upgrade your electrical system. Let’s take a look at them right away!

Safety First, Always

Before you attempt to do anything, it’s imperative that your safety should be your number one priority, especially when your electrical system is in question. A lot of older homes have outdated wiring that no longer meets the standards set in place today.

Outdated wirings are dangerous because over time, not only do they get worse, but they can cause all the circuits to overload and pose serious fire risks. This is why it’s crucial you get an upgrade of your electrical system.

When you have modern wiring and panels with circuit breakers, you can reduce the risk of starting an electric fire, and you and your family can live in peace.

Signs to Lookout For

If you’re still not convinced you need an electrical system upgrade, here’s a list of signs you need to look out for:

Flickering lights: This could mean you have faulty wiring.
Tripping circuit breakers: Circuit breaker trips cause the system to overload and are unable to handle your normal electricity use.
Outlets or switches buzz or make crackling sounds: if you hear this then your wires are in need of repair.
Lights dim when using appliances: another dangerous sign of wiring issues that needs to be looked at.
Electrical sparks or burning smells: this is a huge sign of a fire hazard waiting to happen, you’ll need to take action almost immediately.

To Keep Your Electrical System up to Code

Building codes are always changing year after year and chances are there are new safety standards in place since you have last upgraded your electrical system.

Getting an upgrade can help your home to get back in line with the newer building codes. This is vital in case you ever decide to sell or rent your home in the future. Outdated building codes and electrical systems can lower your chances of getting a sale or a rental agreement from ever being accepted.

For instance, if it’s been over ten years since you’ve changed your electrical system, then it’s definitely time for you to get an upgrade, especially if you are looking to sell or rent the home.

Make sure to hire a professional for this. You don’t want to risk having a newbie do this because it can be an expensive and dangerous mistake.

Finding a decent electrician is quite feasible these days. Whether you are looking for a good electrician in Franklin, TN, or Roswell, TX, you will find one due to the ample availability of seasoned professionals across the US.

Help the Power Needs of Newer Appliances

It’s no secret that an average family consumes a lot of power, and its more likely to rise as more and more modern and newer appliances make their debut. That’s why a change is necessary. 

If your electrical system is having trouble keeping up with your regular appliances at home, then we have bad news. Not only will you be facing regular circuit breaker trips, but you’ll also be at risk of an electrical fire because your circuits are overloading the system.

This is why an upgrade of your electrical system is so important as it can easily take the load of the newer, more modern appliances in your home.

Safety Risks You Should Know About

Here are some safety risks you should be aware of in case you feel like you don’t need to change your old wiring and want to wait for the repairs:

Electrical fires: Old wiring can cause a fire to break out if your electrical system is overloading or corroding.
Electrical shocks: Tube wiring and older knobs aren’t usually grounded, which means you’re at risk of getting an electric shock and it can be fatal.
Inefficient energy: Running multiple appliances and charging way too many devices altogether can prove tough for your outdated electrical system and this can lead to overloading circuits.

Enhancing Energy Efficiency

An outdated system consumes much more electricity than required, leading to elevated energy costs and a highly inefficient use of resources.

Not only that, the system can’t even come close to being compatible with modern devices and appliances, which have higher performance standards, higher safety and need more power to run smoothly.

Upgrading an electrical system will benefit you in many ways. First, a new or upgraded system can easily handle your home’s current and future demands. Second, a new electrical system can help reduce outages, power surges, and damage to your electronics and appliances.

Lastly, you can also install energy-efficient features to your updated system, like LED lighting, solar panels, and smart thermostats. These can lower your energy consumption greatly and save you a lot of money in the future!

Can Support Future Home Upgrades

As a homeowner, you’ll face many renovations and additions to your home, and if upgrading your electrical system isn’t your top priority, then that needs to change ASAP.

Whether you’re renovating a basement or installing new details in your kitchen, you’ll learn that these projects require specialized wiring and extra electrical capacities.

This is why upgrading your electrical system should be at the top of your list when you’re planning on remodeling or renovating anything in your home.

If you upgrade your electrical system before doing any renovations then you can easily add any improvements in your home without having to compromise neither functionality or safety. Everybody wins!

The Takeaway

In conclusion, we’d like to say that upgrading your electrical system is not just for convenience; it’s a must if you’re a homeowner and want to live with your loved ones in peace and safety. And an outdated system will only bring on inefficiency, safety risks and a poor quality of life.

Whether you live in an older home or a new one, we’d suggest investing in an electrical systems upgrade before it’s too late. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

So, if you have experience in dealing with an outdated electrical system and know how to deal with the issues, let us know in the comments below. Till then, stay safe!