Many older homes in Bakersfield were built in the 1960s or earlier. These homes may have serious hidden electrical hazards. Don’t let that scare you too much, because each home is different. We aren’t screaming that the sky is falling; just giving you something to consider. Today we want to tell you how to know when your home’s electrical system needs to be updated or replaced.
Homes Built between 1950 and 1980 May Need Attention
Age and Condition: Circuit breakers have a life of about 25-40 years under the best of conditions. If you notice any discoloration or age-related issues with your circuit breakers, it’s time to give the electrical panel some attention.
Circuit Breakers Trip: We’ve all overloaded a breaker from time to time, but this really becomes a problem with older homes.
Dimming Lights: Your electrical system shouldn’t have a problem running everything in your home. If you notice lights dim when you turn on the hair dryer or the vacuum cleaner, give us a call so we can make sure everything is okay.
Power Strips: Older homes don’t have enough electrical outlets to meet the demands of today’s family. You shouldn’t have to use power strips or extension cords to create more outlets in your home. This also runs the risk of tripping the breaker or overloading the outlet and causing an electrical fire.
Benefits of Newer Electrical Panels
Older homes generally have lower amperage panels than those we use today. Today’s households use a lot of heat-producing appliances such as hair dryers, straightening irons, curling irons, and a variety of other electrical items. These items need a higher amperage electrical panel than those you generally find in older homes.
Homes built or remodeled past 1980 are probably up to code as far as the national building codes are concerned. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the electrical panel in the home can effectively handle the pressure the household puts on it. Give us a call if you’re concerned that your electrical panel isn’t quite doing the job. We’ll check it out and give you our professional opinion.