Replacing Old Electric Wiring: What to Expect

Buying an older home gives you the chance to enjoy vintage features that new homes just can't provide. Unfortunately, you may also be dealing with old wiring. To make sure that your home is safe and properly powered, get professionals to help you upgrade and update your wiring.

Get an inspection

No matter the age of your home or the condition of your current electrical system, the first step in updating your wiring is to get an inspection. The experts at Catahoula Electric can help you determine the best way forward.

Prepare for outages

Updating the electrical wiring in your home means that you will likely be dealing with brief outages. If possible, book your wiring replacement project for the cooler months. A short loss of heat will probably not lead to a lot of discomfort in your Louisiana home, but losing AC for a time could become quite uncomfortable.

Often, new wiring means a new breaker box. If your home is currently on a fuse box, you will probably need to get that updated for code compliance. If your new breaker box needs to be in a different spot from your fuse box, you may need to create access or move items inside your home to leave a spot for your new access panel.

Be ready for workers inside your home

Replacing old wiring will take at least a week. Workers will need to gain access to your home, including your bedrooms and bathrooms. Be ready to move furniture away from the walls and to clear the attic and basement or crawl space access points.

Consider other investments

New wiring may mean new fixtures and switches. Replacing your old wiring could also mean opening walls, and that presents an opportunity. Do you also need to upgrade your plumbing? Could you improve your insulation, too? 

If you find that your electrical project leads to other costly projects, talk with Jefferson Financial about funding for these upgrades. A home equity line of credit (HELOC) could take the pressure off and allow you to finance upgrades that will eventually improve the value of your home.

Consider moving power sources

An electrical upgrade also creates an opportunity to move your power options. For example, you may have your laundry in an inconvenient location. If you plan to stay in the home as you age, this may be the time to move that dryer outlet to a more convenient place.

New wiring can greatly increase the value of your home. It can also increase your safety and give you options to make life more convenient. For more ideas for home updates, follow The Home Mag on Facebook and Instagram.