How to Tell Whether Your Home Needs Electrical Upgrades

HomeBlogHow to Tell Whether Your Home Needs Electrical Upgrades

If your home’s electrical system was installed decades ago, it likely wasn’t designed to handle the demands of today’s modern appliances and devices. Below are a few signs indicating that it needs essential electrical upgrades to meet current standards.

How to Tell Whether Your Home Needs Electrical Upgrades

  • Your Electrical Panel Has Fuses. If your property’s electrical panel still has fuses, it’s time to undertake some electrical upgrades. Fuses are the outdated precursor to circuit breakers. They are one-time use only, meaning you’ll have no choice but to replace them when they blow. This makes them less reliable and more hazardous than the resettable circuit breakers modern systems use today.
  • Your Circuit Breakers Trip Frequently. Today’s appliances and devices use a lot more power than their predecessors. When a home has an outdated electrical system, the electrical panel likely can’t provide sufficient amperage to support simultaneous use. Consequently, you’ll find breakers frequently tripping when you try running multiple items simultaneously.
  • Persistent Buzzing Sounds. Buzzing or crackling noises from your electrical outlets or switches are warning signs that your home’s wiring is outdated and can’t handle the current electrical load. This audible distortion in your electrical current can lead to wasted energy, complete power failures, and even electrical fires.
  • Your Lights Flicker a Lot. Lights that dim significantly or flicker when certain heavy-load devices – like air conditioner and refrigerator – kick on is a clue your system can’t deliver steady voltage flow. Upgrading undersized wiring and overtaxed electrical capacity will stabilize currents to keep the lights shining. Furthermore, it will prevent electrical damage to delicate electronics.

At Buckingham Electric Inc., we specialize in providing high-quality electrical upgrades to homeowners in Asheville, North Carolina and the surrounding areas. If you suspect your home’s aging electrical system is out of touch with your modern electrical needs, get in touch with us today.