Outdated Electrical Wiring
Electricity is the lifeblood of our homes. In our modern world with all of our gadgets and smart devices we may need a little more power than we did 20 years ago.
Outdated electrical wiring simply can’t handle the demands of our modern lives.
From cell phone chargers, video game consoles, smart tvs, laptops, tablets, and all those other gadgets we use these days—your electrical panel may not be sufficient to safely supply your home with the amount of electricity your family needs.
Outdated wiring can be a real safety concern.
Upgrading your electrical system may be an expense you’d rather not pay for, but the safety of your home and family is more valuable than taking a chance with an electrical fire due to an old, outdated, or overworked electrical system.
If your electrical panel hasn’t been updated in over a decade it may be time to see if it needs an upgrade. It’s a good idea to talk to a local electrician you can trust and get their professional opinion.
If you think it’s time for an electrical upgrade in your home, you need a professional electrician who knows what they’re doing. Someone you can trust who is going to get the job done safely and properly.
Trusting a job like this to someone who isn’t licensed is risky, illegal, and potentially dangerous. Safety is the most important thing when dealing with electricity.
Josh from Patton Electric is happy to give you a no obligation, free consultation and answer any questions you may have.
Signs You May Need An Electrical Upgrade
Ignoring some of the signs that your electricity is not functioning properly could lead to an electrical fire. It’s important to pay attention and know what to look for when checking for electrical hazards.
Circuit breakers that keep tripping can be a sign of a circuit overload, insulation breakdown causing a ground fault, or a short circuit. This would definitely be a fire hazard and time to call an electrician.
If your home has a fuse box and not a circuit breaker it is absolutely time to upgrade. Fuse boxes are outdated and can cause safety hazards.
Some other signs you may need an electrical upgrade are:
- Crackly noises when plugging something in
- Small electric shocks when plugging something in
- Sparks when plugging something in
- Overloaded outlets
- Frayed or exposed wires
- Flickering lights
- Burning smells
- Yellowing or brownish burnt looking discoloration on outlets or light switches
The Need For More Outlets
If your home is depending on power strips to source your electricity you need more outlets.
Each bedroom in your home should have at least one outlet on each wall. Running extension cords along walls for your electrical needs isn’t convenient and it’s not safe. Not to mention it’s an eyesore.
Overloading existing outlets with a power strip that is powering 6 different devices is a sign that you don’t have enough electrical outlets in your home to power your modern life.
Power strips are not meant to be long term solutions throughout your living space.
If you look under your desk and see a tangled mess of wires plugged into a power strip, it’s time to call an electrician.
Overloading power strips or depending on them to run major appliances can be a fire hazard.
If you’re not sure if your home is up to code and has the correct amount of outlets to power your home's needs safely, Patton Electric can help.
To have an electrical inspection of your home in Northwest Arkansas, get in touch with us—we’re happy to schedule an appointment.
Purchasing New Home Appliances
If you are planning on installing any new major appliances and your electricity hasn’t been updated in a while you may need an upgrade.
Old writing may not cut it. If you’re putting in a dishwasher and your home has never had one before, you will need to make sure you can power it safely
Maybe you want to put in a pool, spa, or hot tub—these items will most likely require an upgrade.
Most new appliances require GFCI outlets.
Outdated wiring or insufficient panels or wiring may not be able to supply the energy needed to power large appliances. Trying to power larger appliances with outdated electricity is not only a fire hazard, but it could damage your appliances or even shorten their lifespan.
Water Damage
If you experience water damage due to a natural disaster, water pipe break, or water leak, keep everyone away from the panel or electrical outlet and call an electrician immediately.
If you see any signs of rust or wet surfaces around your electrical panel this may be a sign that water is leaking in the area and you may need to update your panel.
If you live in Northwest Arkansas and are looking for an electrician, Josh Patton will treat you like family. As a family man, he knows how important it is to have peace of mind that your family’s home is as safe as it can be. He truly cares about his customers and you can always trust that he is going to be honest and fair in his pricing.
Patton Electric can conduct an inspection for homeowners and give you the peace of mind that your home's electricity is in good shape.
No job is too small for Patton Electric. Josh is happy to take care of all your electrical needs—from small jobs to large projects, you can count on Patton Electric to be there.
