Like your heating/cooling systems and your plumbing, the electrical wiring in your home is one of those behind the scenes aspects that only seem to get attention when something goes wrong. Unlike a leaking pipe or a loose air duct, a faulty electrical connection or exposed wire can have consequences that are immediate and potentially dangerous. If you are moving into a house that was built more than 50 years ago, or have never had an electrical inspection done on your house before, it may be a good idea to get a licensed electrician to take a look at the wiring in your house. This can save you from a costly and potentially dangerous problem with your home’s electrical system occurring in the future. In addition to an inspection, here are a few other tips to be aware of when putting electrical wiring in your home.

Avoid Overlamping

This first tip has more to do with lightbulbs than the actual wiring of your fixtures, but it can have a direct negative effect on the wires if this tip is ignored. Overlamping is simply when you put a bulb with a higher wattage than the fixture is designed for.

Repair Frayed Wiring

If your noticing that your lights are beginning to flicker (especially outside when it’s windy) this may be because the wires attached to the fixtures are beginning to fray. If this is the case, you may want to fix the connections yourself. However, this could also be a problem with the weatherhead (the fitting where overhead cables come into your home), which means you need to contact your electrical provider immediately for repairs.

Replace Aluminium Wiring

Aluminium wiring was introduced in the 1960s as a cheap replacement for copper wiring. Not only does this wiring no longer adhere to electrical codes, it is prone to corrosion when it comes into contact with copper wiring, making it a potential fire hazard in your home.

Replace Loose Outlets

If you’re noticing that your plugs are no longer staying secured in a power outlet, this is likely because the contacts in the outlet have become loose. This can potentially lead to sparks flying out of the receptacle (known as arcing) which is a dangerous fire hazard.

Avoid Push-in Terminals

While some manufacturers give you what seem like more convenient options when installing an electrical outlet or switch, these can turn out to be unreliable and potentially dangerous, despite their convenience. Push-in terminals are a perfect example of these unreliable wiring methods. Fortunately most products that feature push in terminals have the older, more reliable screw-in terminals. Its recommended that you stick to this method for your own safety and convenience.

By following these tips, you’ll keep yourself and your loved ones safe from any potentially dangerous electrical problems that may have otherwise occurred in the near future. For more information feel free to visit us online or connect with us via Facebook and Twitter.