As grand and unique as your older home may be, it may come with a few electrical issues. The sooner you identify these problems, the sooner you can have an electrical services provider to visit your house and correct or upgrade your system. Here’s a rundown of three electrical problems that many historic homes face. 

A Guide to Common Electrical Issues in Older Houses

1. Flickering Lights

Flickering lights don’t necessarily mean your house is haunted – they may just be signs of an electrical issue. Generally, lighting irregularities occur because a short has gone unaddressed, or your electrical demand exceeds your system’s capabilities. Have an electrical services provider conduct an inspection and judge whether you need an update. 

2. Outdated Wiring

If your home was built before the 1930s, it may have what was once known as “knob and tube” wiring. In this outdated system, wires were strung through tubes held up by knobs. Unfortunately, these types of wiring systems are prone to degrade over the years. Since they represent a significant fire hazard, it’s important to replace them as soon as possible. 

3. Frequent Outages

Most older homes rely on fuse boxes, which means you may experience problems when you use different appliances at the same time. Combined power is often too much for this equipment to handle, resulting in blown fuses. Due to the higher electrical demands of modern appliances, it’s wise to have your electrical services provider install a circuit breaker panel, which can better regulate high voltages. 

If you discover that your home is suffering from one of these problems, reach out to the trusted electricians at Brian's Heating & Electrical in Mifflinburg, PA, for electrical services. For over 30 years, these professionals have seen and accurately addressed just about every type of electrical issue for homeowners in Union County. Old homes tend to have problems with more than just electricity, so you can also seek their help with a new furnace installation or a boiler repair. To schedule an appointment with the crew, just call (570) 966-7295. Learn more about the company by visiting their website.