If you’ve been calling for electrical contractor help on numerous occasions, or you’re noticing dimming or flickering lights, it could be time for a wiring upgrade. Your home’s electrical system needs maintenance and replacements at regular intervals, and keeping up with the latest safety features and installations ensures that your house remains a safe, convenient haven for you and your family. 

Signs You Need an Upgrade

An electric system in need of upgrades will usually show certain symptoms. Aside from dim or flickering lights, you might also notice constant circuit breaker trips, frequently blown fuses, tingling feelings upon touching appliances, and warm or discolored outlets. If you smell burning coming from outlets or appliances, or you see sparks, be sure to call an electrical contractor.

Your system is also likely out of date if your home still has two-pronged outlets, or a lack of GFCI outlets in bathrooms and kitchens. Two-pronged outlets don’t have a ground wire, meaning there is no surge protection, and GFCI outlets are designed to cut off power to the circuit in the event of water contacting the outlet. 

Benefits of Updating Your Electrical

Electrical updates can help your system accommodate more of a load, meaning you can supply power to more appliances with higher energy requirements. They also help you stay safe by ensuring your system can safely handle the currents passing through it. Older wiring can lose its insulating layers over time, creating unwanted contact between a live wire and the surrounding environment. 

Some older electrical systems have circuit breakers that don’t trip when they’re supposed to. This means overloaded circuits are allowed to stay intact, leading to potential fires or electric shock. New electrical installations ensure these safety problems don’t arise, as they are designed to shut off as soon as unsafe levels of electricity are reached on a given circuit. 
 

If you need electrical work, such as new wiring installations, panel upgrades, and a range of other services, turn to the electrical contractors at Bonham Electric, Inc.  For more than 60 years, these electrical contractors have provided home and business owners with 24/7 electrical work, and have an A+ rating from the BBB®. To see a full list of their services, visit them online or call (937) 233-7662 today.