Most people living in older homes understand that no matter how well-built the home is, there is a certain amount of routine maintenance that must be performed every few years. This is particularly true for the home’s electrical service. A good rule of thumb is to have your home wiring inspected about every 25 years to ensure that the home meets current electrical safety standards.

When you’re looking for a residential electrician, be sure to give Gary Houston Electric Co. a call. We will be glad to schedule a no-obligation inspection of your home, and we offer 100% customer satisfaction on all the work that we do. Here are a few signs that you may have a need to have your household wiring inspected and serviced:

Circuit breakers tripping frequently

Circuit breakers are an important safety feature in your home. If your household breakers trip frequently during routine electrical usage, there could be an issue with wiring or grounding.

Older wiring

If the shielding on your wires is brittle, if you have aluminum wiring, or if your wiring has cloth insulation, it’s definitely time for an upgrade.

Your home still has ungrounded (2 prong) outlets.

Many homes still have a few 2 prong outlets, which is certainly inconvenient when trying to plug in electronic devices. But an ungrounded outlet isn’t merely inconvenient, it’s also unsafe. Fortunately, replacing them is easy and inexpensive. You should also have outlets with built in Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) installed in wet areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

Overreliance on power strips

While some power strips offer surge protection for electronic devices, some are simply a way to plug in more devices. Powering excessive electronics and appliances on a single outlet can definitely overload a circuit.

You have nonfunctioning switches or outlets or switches that are warm to the touch

In most cases, a nonfunctioning switch isn’t causing any harm, but if you have one that is warm to the touch, you should get it checked out right away.

Gary Houston Electric employs the most experienced and professional electricians in Arkansas, and we’re only a phone call away if you need an inspection or have any questions about electrical safety. Click here for assistance, or give us a call at (501) 375-8330