Your home’s wiring is the pathway that feeds all electrical devices and instruments in the household. It carries current to where it needs to be. Over the years, parts of a home’s wiring may deteriorate or become damaged, posing a serious shock or fire hazard. Home electrical problems account for 67,800 fires, 485 deaths, and $868 million in property damage in the US per year.

Electrical wiring issues tend to be more common in older homes. Considering many use aluminum wiring instead of copper wiring, this isn’t a surprise. Aluminum wiring has long been known to be more susceptible to fires than copper.

If you’ve recently moved into a home that’s over 40 years old, you may experience some electrical issues. We’ve outlined some of the most common in this piece. Take a look.

Common Wiring Problems in Older Homes

The oldest type of wiring system found in houses is called knob-and-tube because of the insulating knobs and tubes that were used to run the wiring along and through the framing of the house. Knob-and-tube wiring is generally dangerous when the insulation experiences wear and tear when building insulation begins to cover it, or when it wasn’t installed or altered properly—all of which can cause overheating and potentially lead to a fire.

These are some of the most common problems with old wiring:

Cracked, damaged, or missing wire insulation

This is a fairly common issue. If the wire insulation in your home is damaged or missing and is exposing the metal of the wire, you need to call in a professional electrician to correct it ASAP.

Building insulation surrounding the wiring

You need to be extra careful when insulating your attic so as not to surround any active knob-and-tube wiring running in joist cavities.

Exposed splices

All exposed splices that aren’t in an electrical box must be soldered. If they’re simply wrapped in electrical tape, make sure to have them soldered by an electrician.

Old fuses

If there are fuses that are larger than 15 or 20 amps in the fuse box, you may have a circuit that’s “overfused.” Wiring in older homes wasn’t designed to handle the modern appliances we use today. Make sure not to exceed 15 amp fuse ratings in an older home.

At TD West Electric, we offer a variety of electrical services at reasonable rates. Based in the Bay Area, we’re a renowned electrical contractor service provider that provides reliable residential and commercial electrical services. Call us at 510-648-1465 today to learn more about our services.