Electrician Tip: 4 Signs of an Outdated Electrical System

Inspect your electrical system annually

Overheated wires in Windham CT

The electrical system in your CT home should be looked over each year. New England weather, electricity demands and pests can all prematurely age your system. They can also create fire hazards and put your family's safety at risk. Your electrical system has a lifespan of about 20 years. After that, you need to start planning for an upgrade. A Rapid Service CT electrician will update your meter sockets, wiring, and other electrical components to make sure that nothing is holding your electrical system back from functioning properly AND safely.

What you should look out for

If you're unfamiliar with the trades, an electrical inspection can be a daunting task. You may open your fuse box or panel and think, "okay...what exactly is it that I should be looking for anyway?!" Here's a quick list of things an electrician checks for when inspecting your electrical panel or fuse box:

• Signs of rodent droppings - mice squirm their way into tight spaces to nest. They chew up the wiring and this is a MAJOR fire hazard.
• Signs of water damage - if you see rust, corrosion or water itself, call a professional electrician immediately. Water + electricity = fire hazard.

  Signs of water corrosion in a Manchester CT electrical panel

• Visible signs or smells of 'overheating' - you may see smoke stains or burn marks. This means that a circuit is being overloaded or is simply too old to do its job safely.
• A 'Zinsco' or 'FPE' designation on the panel - these panels were discontinued due to operation failure. Most were manufactured in the 1950s and cannot withstand the demand of today's electricity needs.

Give a professional electrician a call to schedule a comprehensive inspection if you find any of those signs. He will also be able to look at your outlets, switches and wiring to pinpoint other concerns.

Call your local Columbia CT electrician

In order to make sure that your electrical system is running safely and efficiently, you should retain professional help immediately. Our experienced electricians can check your electrical service panel to determine if you need an electrical panel upgrade. We find that many older Eastern Connecticut electrical systems just can't supply the electricity to power all the today's modern appliances and electrical devices. You can contact the Rapid Service office staff to schedule an appointment with an electrician: 860-228-1036.

 

 

Rapid Service is located in Columbia CT. We offer plumbing, electrical and heating repairs and installations for Eastern CT homeowners. Our Plumbing Installations include: well pumps, well tanks, water heaters, sump pumps, sewage pumps, toilets and water treatment systems. Plumbing Repairs include: clogged drains, frozen pipes, burst pipes, appliance hookups, clogged toilets, leaking pipes and odor or leak detection. Electrical Installations include service changes, panel upgrades, generators, electric heat, surge protection, outside lighting and interior fixtures. Electrical Repairs include faulty outlets, GFIs, and updating wiring and circuits. Heating Installations include oil or gas boilers. Heating Repairs include baseboard, piping, valves and coils. We offer FULL Kitchen Remodeling and Bathroom Remodeling services too!  Some of the towns we cover are: Columbia, Willimantic, Andover, Coventry, Bolton, Vernon, Ellington, Willington, Tolland, Mansfield, Willlimantic, Ashford, Chaplin, Windham, Lebanon, Colchester, Hebron, Marlborough, Glastonbury, Manchester,East Hampton, Scotland, Canterbury, CT.