Replace Old, Unsafe Wiring, Brampton
Older homes typically use the “knob and tube” wiring method or aluminum wiring, which are outdated and can be unsafe. We can assess your home for safety and replace old wiring with safer systems.
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Replace Old, Unsafe Wiring, Brampton
Your electrical distribution equipment is more important to the daily functioning of your home than you may think. Outdated wiring is a safety risk, with hundreds of house fires per year being started by faulty wiring and malfunctioning household outlets. In most cases, these disasters could have been prevented by upgrades or routine maintenance. Don’t take the risk — have your wiring inspected today, and if needed, replace your old, unsafe wiring.
The oldest and most common type of wiring still present in homes today is knob and tube wiring. This kind of wiring was used during the first wave of residential electrical installations as early as the 1900s, but was approved for newer buildings as late as the 1970s. Especially if your home was built before the 1950s, it’s important to have your home inspected and cleared to ensure that you and your property are not at risk.
Although knob and tube wiring can be found most visibly hanging suspended in basements and attics, it’s also not uncommon for this kind of wiring to have been hidden behind the walls by previous homeowners. In cases such as this, the only way to know for sure that it is no longer present is by having a licensed electrician send a tiny camera through the walls. Knob and tube wiring can be identified as distinct black tubes running through porcelain white knobs, often left exposed to the elements or crammed in spaces that put it at risk for overheating.
There are many reasons that knob and tube wiring is now considered to be old, unsafe wiring and a safety hazard, but one of the main reasons is due to how much electrical loads have increased over the years. The amount of electronics in the home have increased significantly compared to half a century ago with the addition of computers, air conditioning and heating, modern appliances, and personal devices. Older wiring systems just aren’t enough to accommodate this change.
Contact MADE ELECTRIC for more information on replacing old, unsafe wiring! We operate within the GTA to assess the safety of your home and ensure that it’s operating with the safest possible wiring system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is aluminum wiring considered outdated?
Aluminum wiring was popularized between the 1960s and 1970s during a time when copper was still relatively expensive. It was favored at the time for its lightweight properties and cost-effectiveness. However, over time it was determined that due to its softness, it is much more prone to becoming loose from its terminals. Now considered to be outdated, if kept, it’s recommended to have this kind of wiring inspected every 3-5 years.
How much does it cost to completely re-wire the home?
The cost of completely re-wiring a home tends to vary, depending on factors such as the age of your home and the time of the last renovation (if any). Generally, the larger a home is, the more materials will be required, increasing the overall cost. Another significant factor is having to open up the walls, which can cost several thousand dollars. To save on this cost, homeowners often wait combine multiple renovations, or better yet, pre-wire their homes during new construction.
What kind of wiring is used for new homes today?
Copper wiring is most commonly used for new homes today and is currently the first choice for modern homeowners and electrical experts. As the price of copper has come down, copper wiring has been used to reduce wiring expenses due to its ability to transmit large electrical loads with minimal wear and tear. Its high tensile strength has made it highly favourable as of 2021.