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Don't worry; rewiring is often not as invasive as you think.
By REBECCA SLOAN
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
S THE BASEMENT OF YOUR OLDER home filled with a mishmash of outdated wiring?
If so, you could be flirting with a house fire.
Ronald H. Baker of Baker Electrical in Lordstown revealed a few ways to determine if the wiring in your home needs upgrading.
CIRCUIT BREAKER BOXOR FUSE BOX?
Circuit breaker boxes have been the standard in new construction for the past 30 years, so if your home still has an old-fashioned fuse box, you should call an electrician.
"You can still buy fuse boxes, and some people actually prefer them, but circuit breaker boxes are safer and are the standard of today," Baker said.
However, Baker said sometimes the fuse boxes in older homes have been upgraded incorrectly, and this is an even bigger problem.
"In many old homes, I will find fuse boxes with old 15 amp wire that has been overloaded with 20 or 30 amp fuses," Baker explained. "This type of overload is a fire hazard."
Dangerous cases like these are all too common, because wiring in most pre-1970s homes can safely handle a load of only 15 amps; circuits that might have been added later were probably designed to carry 20 amps.
"We use more electricity today than our grandparents did, and older homes often have a lower capacity in their wiring systems than what is needed to operate modern electrical appliances. For example, it's very unsafe to have 15 amp fuses running microwaves or other kitchen appliances," Baker said.
If an old fuse box is overloaded, the lights might flicker and fuses will blow frequently.
"That should be a big clue that you need to call an electrician," Baker said.
If you do have your fuse box replaced with a circuit breaker box, it doesn't mean you will have to have all of the wiring in your house replaced.
Baker said a typical revamping involves replacing the old fuse box with a circuit breaker box and running isolated branch circuits to major appliances.
Often the wiring that is used to operate smaller items such as lights or radios doesn't need to be replaced.
Well, not unless the wiring happens to be older than the hills.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF OLD WIRING
Harry T. Hodge of Hodge Electric in Warren said knob and tube wiring is one of the oldest types of wiring still present in homes today.
This wiring has porcelain insulating tubes that contain wires; modern wiring is usually run through plastic or PVC tubes.
Baker said if knob and tube wiring hasn't been spliced or taped and is still intact without evidence of fraying or cracking, it can be considered relatively safe.
However, if it has been spliced or taped or shows signs of deterioration, call an electrician and have it replaced.
Hodge said BX cable is another type of old wiring. It has a ribbed metal covering to protect the wires inside it.
Baker said BX cable was a popular choice for wiring homes that were built before the invention of electricity because BX cable could be "fished into narrow spaces and run through holes drilled up through the basement."
However, the metal covering of BX cable can be dangerous in a basement because of the potential there for flooding and dampness.
Hodge said Romex wiring is the most abundantly used wiring today. It has a soft rubber covering.
If you're buying an old home and an inspector sees knob and tube wiring or certain types of BX cable, he or she will probably recommend further evaluation by a licensed electrician.
THE REWIRING PROCESS
If most or all of the wiring in your older home has to be replaced, Baker said not to worry. An electrician can usually replace old wiring without having to knock out walls or ceilings.
"An experienced electrician has a lot of special equipment, such as drill extensions and flexible drill bits, and has ways of getting wiring inside walls," he said.
The best time to have an old house rewired is during remodeling.
"If you are tearing out your old kitchen or bathroom and the walls are open, that's the time to call an electrician," Baker said.
COST
The cost of rewiring an old house will vary greatly depending on the size and difficulty of the job.
"Every job is different, but two-story houses are always going to cost more than one-story houses," Baker said. "A ballpark figure might be around $3,000 or $4,000 to have an entire house rewired."
Baker recommends getting bids from two or three licensed electricians before you make your final decision.
"This is a competitive business, and bids might vary," he said.
Hodge said you should notify your electric company if you plan to have any old wiring replaced or if you plan to have a fuse box replaced by a circuit breaker box.
"You might have to pay a $95 fee to the power company if you have your fuse box replaced by a circuit breaker box," he said.