How Often Should a House be Rewired?
In terms of safety and energy efficiency this is a very important question to address. The cost of updating and upgrading the electrical wiring infrastructure in the home is dependent on there being regular maintenance undertaken as an important step in preventing fires and other long-term property damage.
An electrical upgrade or rewire could be recommended by an electrical inspector following a fixed wiring inspection or EICR where the inspector will look for:
- Signs of deterioration;
- Damage to wiring or insulation;
- The age of the wires; and
- The condition of your junction box.
You will be notified if a wiring upgrade is necessary for health and safety reasons so it is wise to book an inspection at least every ten years.
It is also critical to know some warning signs yourself as these can tell you that something may be wrong with your internal wiring.
Some common warning signs are:
- Circuit breakers that appear to trip for no reason;
- A panel unit that does not contain a sufficient number of fuses;
- Lights that dim or flicker on occasion (a sign of an overloaded panel);
- Buzzing sounds or acrid smells emitting from one or more locations;
- Outlets that have become loose; or
- Electrical arc or sparks from an appliance or plug socket.
These could point to potentially dangerous conditions and we advise to always contact a NICEIC certified electrician at the first sign of trouble.
It is not recommended that electrical home improvement projects are carried out by do-it-yourself enthusiasts. You risk causing a significant amount of damage or may inadvertently get electrocuted when attempting your own wiring so please do not take this risk as your own rewiring will not pass electrical safety regulations. Therefore, despite the costs involved, any electrical improvements should be carried out by a qualified electrician to provide peace of mind that your wiring is certified as safe and undertaken in line with current rules and regulations.
Speak with a qualified professional before you consider rewiring a house room-by-room or upgrading the entire system as they will be able to provide modern solutions which align with electrical safety regulations.
