Like any major change, there are many things to consider when thinking about a house rewire. It’s best to talk all these issues out with an experienced, licensed electrician, but here are some things to consider. 

Old homes may need to be rewired, but newer homes may need to be as well. If you are planning a major renovation, a partial rewire may be considered as you may want to add large appliances that require dedicated circuits or add lighting where there was none. This is potentially the best time to rewire your home as the walls will likely be open and will help cut down the costs. 

• If it was wired before 1950 and has not been upgraded it likely needs rewiring to replace cloth-insulated wiring. 
• If the home has cloth-insulated wiring.
• If the home has knob and tube wiring. This is typical in homes built before 1935.
• If the home has aluminum wiring. This type of wiring was used in place of copper wiring during the 1960s and 70s. Aluminum wiring is a fire hazard. However, the wiring can be upgraded to make it safe at a lower cost than a complete rewire. 
• If a home’s electric system is not grounded or outlets are not grounded. Grounding directs excessive electricity out of the house to prevent fires and electric shocks. 
• If your home does not have enough power for your needs or is lacking outlets, an upgrade will help get your home to match your needs. 
• If you notice you are using several extension cords on a regular basis, you need additional outlets that may require an electric system upgrade. 
• If an electric panel is not safe, it needs to be replaced. This may or may not be part of a home rewire process. 

How Can I tell if I need a House rewire without opening the walls?

There are a few signs your house needs rewired that you can look for without the help of a professional electrician or damaging your walls.

• Weird sounds, smells of burning, or marks around your fixtures, outlets, or electrical panel.
• Outlets, switches, or panels are hot or warm to touch.
• The use of many extension cords or surge protectors
• Breakers are being tripped and need reset frequently.

Is Deteriorating Wiring Really a Problem?

Yes. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, 67,800 fires are caused by electrical problems. Those fires resulted in 485 deaths and $868 million in property damage. Home electrical wiring accounts for twice as many fires as electrical appliances.

How Do You Know What Kind of Wiring You Have?

You can compare exposed wiring or wiring at the electric panel to pictures of knob and tube and cloth wiring to help you determine what kind of wiring you have. Determining whether or not you have aluminum wiring is not as easy and will require a professional eye. Your wiring should be inspected every 10 years. If you are unsure about the kind of wiring you have, call an electrician for a safety inspection.