6 Signs You Should Consider Rewiring in Chelmsford

6 Signs You Should Consider Rewiring in Chelmsford

  • Electrical
rewiring in Chelmsford by Ryan Gath

As houses get older, the wiring inside the house gets weaker and more worn, eventually leading to serious issues. In order to prevent these issues, you’ll have to give your home a complete rewiring to replace the older wiring with fresh wires. But how do you know when it’s time to retire your old wiring? And what other benefits can you expect from rewiring? Ryan Gath Electric can tell you all about when you should get rewiring in Chelmsford.

Here are six signs you should schedule a rewiring in Chelmsford:

Discolored or charred outlets and switches

If you notice your outlets and switches have changed colors somewhat, it might be a bad sign. When there are loose connections in your outlets or switches, arcing and sparking may result in small fires. These fires can cause outlets and switches to get discolored from charring. If you don’t see anything odd about your outlets and switches, the issue is likely with the wiring in the walls.

Burning smell

Have you noticed a constant burning smell and can’t identify the source? That might be a major sign of faulty wiring. You’ll want to turn off the power at the circuit and immediately call a technician. Not doing so can result in an electrical fire.

Lighting issues

If the lights in your home are flickering, it might just be a loose or bad bulb. On the other hand, if every light is flickering, then it’s the wiring that’s the problem. Additionally, if bulbs are burning out in their sockets despite being the right model, the fixture can’t handle the bulb’s wattage. That’s also a sign of a problem that can be solved through rewiring.

Aluminum wiring

An estimated 2 million homes between 1965 and 1973 were built with aluminum wiring instead of copper wiring. Aluminum wiring connections are more likely to fail, overheat, and start fires. If you see the letters ‘AL’ on your wiring’s jacket, that means it aluminum and needs to go.

Blown fuses and tripped circuit breakers

Fuses and circuit breakers are made to cut off the flow of electricity when it exceeds the number of amps it can handle. This helps protect your home from electrical fires. If your system is worn out or can’t handle the electricity usage in your home, a fuse will blow or the circuit breaker will trip. If this happens, bad wiring may be the culprit. Of course, there are other reasons your fuses can blow or your circuit breaker trips, such as faulty or overheating appliances. If you’re unsure, use a circuit breaker tester to make sure everything works fine.

Cord-based electrical shocks

Have you gotten an electrical shock when plugging or unplugging an appliance? That’s also a possible sign of faulty wiring. These shocks can be very dangerous, and you should call us immediately if you experience one.

The benefits of rewiring in Chelmsford

One of the biggest benefits of rewiring your home is safety, unsurprisingly. However, there are other benefits for going through with a rewiring:

  • Increased electrical capability
  • Be certain of your home’s wiring’s lifespan
  • Safe home extensions
  • Cheaper home insurance
  • Increased home resale value

What makes Ryan Gath Electric my best choice for changing my home’s wiring?

Ryan Gath Electric has a decade of experience helping Massachusetts residents stay comfortable and safe with their electricity. We take pride in the outstanding quality of our work so you can trust our team to finish the job properly without damaging your home or your delicate electrical equipment. We’ll set up the wiring according to the latest industry standards and building codes, and we can return for any additional fixtures or appliances you want along the way. Call Ryan Gath Electric today to learn more about our rewiring services and more!

By Ryan Gath Electric

7 Reasons You Should Get a Fuse Box Upgrade in Chelmsford

7 Reasons You Should Get a Fuse Box Upgrade in Chelmsford

  • Electrical
Fuse box upgrade in Chelmsford by Ryan Gath

Fuse boxes were an important part of your home’s electrical system. If something goes wrong with your system, the fuse blows in order to protect the system from an overload or short circuit. However, they’re now old news and generally worth replacing with circuit breakers. It may work fine, but there are some good reasons to make the jump. Ryan Gath Electric can give you some good reasons to get a fuse box upgrade in Chelmsford.

Here are seven reasons you should get a fuse box upgrade in Chelmsford:

 

Upcoming add-ons

If you’re going to get an add-on for your home, a circuit breaker is definitely worth buying. The new part of your home is going to need more power to run electronics. Odds are your fuse box isn’t going to be able to handle the new load.

 

Insurance problems

Many home insurance companies consider fuse boxes to be an out-of-date safety feature. Because of this, homeowners with fuse boxes may have trouble keeping their coverage in force. Those that do get coverage are more likely to have expensive premiums.

 

Not powerful enough

The average American home today uses 150-220 amps to power all of its electronics. Meanwhile, fuse boxes generally max out at around 100 amps. Trying to use a fuse box with a modern house is highly inconvenient and also a fire hazard.

 

Inconvenient

When the fuse or circuit box turns off your power, what do you do? If it’s a fuse box, you have to replace your burnt-out fuse with a fresh one. This means you have to have a stock of them on hand or be willing to rush out to the hardware store. With a circuit box, you simply have to flick a switch, which is way more convenient and cheaper.

 

Easier DIY mistakes

When replacing a burnt-out fuse, you have to replace it with one that’s the correct size amp. It’s actually possible to put one in that’s a higher size than what the box is equipped for. However, this leads to a higher risk of electrical fires. With circuit boxes, you don’t have to replace fuses and can avoid this DIY risk.

 

No GFCI

GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) are a kind of outlet that protects users from electric shocks caused by faults in devices plugged into the outlet. However, they only work with circuit breakers. Fuse box users won’t be able to make use of them.

 

How can Ryan Gath Electric help me with my home’s electrical system?

Ryan Gath Electric has been helping homeowners around Chelmsford, MA with their electrical problems for 9 years. Updating your home’s fuse box is a task that should never be done without a professional’s help, and our company can provide that professional. The upgrading process is difficult, but we can provide high-quality help that’ll keep you and your home safe. If you’re looking to get a fuse box upgrade in Chelmsford, make Ryan Gath Electric your first choice!

By Ryan Gath Electric