Recent data estimates that the average age of owner-inhabited homes in the U.S. is between 42 and 51. This fact aligns with the surge in home construction around 1970 when young baby boomers began purchasing their first homes.
Most houses built over 60 years ago had electrical systems providing 40 to 90 amps. Designed to run one or two appliances, a couple of lamps, and sometimes a furnace, these obsolete electrical systems could never support a 21st-century household. Today, most homeowners require adequate electricity to run five or six appliances, state-of-the-art HVAC systems, computers, smartphones, and home theater devices.
New home construction is at all-time lows due to the escalating costs of materials, lack of skilled labor, and stagnant interest. Consequently, more people are buying older homes, creating a surge in the home remodeling market involving plumbing, heating/cooling, and especially electrical systems.
Top 5 Electrical Hazards in Older Homes
Amperage and Circuit Breaker Trips
If a circuit breaker trips frequently in an older home, the electrical system’s amperage is likely insufficient or faulty. The best way to avoid electric hazards due to defective wiring is to have a qualified electrician assess the system’s amperage and age. Comparing current energy usage to your existing electrical infrastructure ensures the system meets your household’s power requirements without risking burnouts or fires.
Outdated Electrical Panels
To determine the age of an older electrical panel, examine it for labels, serial numbers, manufacturer dates, brand and model, and type of circuit breakers or fuses. Fuse boxes installed in homes constructed before 1960 typically had a 2×4 panel that could not handle today’s household power demands. The National Electrical Code (NEC) also has compliance regulations regarding panel placement and components.
Overloaded panels will have too many wires connected to one breaker, creating a safety hazard that could blow out the entire electrical system or start a fire. Dimming or flickering lights could mean circuits are overloaded or loose wiring connections exist somewhere in the house.
Lack of Grounding In Outlets
Common in homes built before 1960, the lack of grounding in outlets refers to sockets missing a third wire that should be connected to the ground. After 1962, the NEC mandated grounded outlets in new homes.
Ungrounded outlets have one hot and one neutral wire, while grounded outlets have three wires: hot, neutral, and ground. Also, ungrounded outlets have only two prongs instead of three. Electrical hazards associated with ungrounded outlets include higher fire risk due to arcing or sparking and the potential to damage appliances and devices during power surges.
No GFCI Outlets in Kitchens, Laundry Rooms, and Bathrooms
A Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is an electrical receptacle commonly incorporated in outlets where people are exposed to water. GFCIs use sensors to monitor electricity use and prevent serious burn injuries or electrocution.
When sensors detect that the electrical current passing through the outlet is not the same as the current returning to the circuit, the GFCI immediately turns the power off. GFCI outlets will have a small “test” and “retest” button visible on the surface of the outlet.
Arc Faults and Aging Electrical Wiring
Older, cracked wire insulation, incorrect wiring installation, and loose connections are the primary causes of arc faults. Arc faults generate sparks and intense heat that can ignite furniture, carpets, and other highly flammable materials. Frayed extension cords, overheated cords or wires, and rodents chewing on electrical wires are other sources of dangerous arc faults.
Arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) are safety devices that cut power to affected circuits when they detect dangerous electrical arcing. While GFCIs protect you from potentially fatal electrical shocks from ground faults, AFCIs are designed to detect hazardous arc faults in branch circuits. AFCIs and GFCIs can be combined in older homes to help prevent electrical hazards.
A licensed electrician should always install AFCI circuit breakers and test them regularly after installation. AFCIs provide a much higher level of protection from arc faults than standard circuit breakers by detecting and eliminating the arc before it causes a fire. Hidden electrical fires in older homes caused by arc faults will spread quickly. Moreover, smoke detectors may not sense smoke until the fire has engulfed much of the house.
The Bottom Line
Reduce the risk of electrical fires and severe shocks in your older house by asking yourself these questions:
- Is the home over 30 years old?
- Have the electric panels been replaced in the past 20 years?
- Are you resetting breakers more than once a month?
- Have you noticed scorch marks, burning odors, or buzzing sounds coming from outlets or switches?
- Do the lights flicker or dim when you use appliances?
- Does the electrical panel sometimes feel warm or even hot?
- Is the electrical system composed of aluminum or cloth-insulated wiring?
- Are there ungrounded outlets?
If you recently bought an older house or plan to buy one, consider hiring a certified electrician to inspect the electrical system and perform necessary upgrades.
You might also be interested in: A Beginner’s Guide to Home Electrical Safety and Maintenance
