The Electrical Hazards of Old Buildings

Do you have an older residential building that is experiencing all kinds of electrical problems, such as light flickering, damaged wires, damaged electrical sockets, etc.? Then don’t despair, as you are not alone! Electrical problems in older houses are very common, and if the issues are not resolved on time, they could be dangerous and costly.

In British Columbia, for example, over 200 house fires are reported yearly due to faults in residential electrical systems. In addition to this terrible fact, the B.C. Fire Commissioner’s Office also confirmed that most electrical fire accidents happen in older residential buildings. This is enough reason why insurance companies in the state are becoming increasingly concerned about the rate at which older buildings suffer from electrical accidents.

Therefore, in this article, we’ll discuss some common electrical hazards found in older residential buildings in B.C. Plus, we will also show you how you can tackle them before they cause serious damage to the house and its inhabitants.

What Do We Mean by “Older Buildings”?

Older buildings have a lot of interesting things/features which you won’t find in modern buildings. For example, older buildings often have larger rooms, bigger hallways, etc. Some of these features bring about those special nostalgia feelings. However, as impressive as this sounds, older buildings also tend to experience electrical problems as they age.

But before we talk about the electrical hazards in old buildings, we should start by defining what we mean by old buildings. What makes a building an “old building”?

A building may be considered an older building when it has existed for more than 45 years. Although, this may be a little subjective because some houses may not even last for this 45 years before they are considered older buildings.  Conversely, a building may still appear to be in good condition externally even after 45 years, but Internally, most of these houses are usually done for.

5 Electrical Hazards of Old Buildings

1.     Faulty Electrical Cables and Wires

This is one of the most common electrical problems facing older buildings. As with every other house component, such as the roofing, ceiling, drainage system, chimney, etc., electrical wires can also deteriorate massively and, before you know it, stop working. While this is even the least of the issue, deteriorating electrical wires and cables can cause all sorts of electrical accidents if they are not changed. So, all you have to do is call an electrician to come and check the status of the insulation around the wires and the Cables that runs electricity throughout the building.

2.     Knob and Tube Wiring

Knob and Tube wiring in an old building has also been described as a direct contributor to electrical fires in most Canadian buildings. You are probably wondering what knob-and-tube wiring is;

Knob-and-tube wiring was the kind of wiring that houses built before the 1950s uses.

In British Columbia, you can find this kind of wiring in older houses that have yet to undergo renovation in recent years. The problem now is that knob and tube wiring being single-insulated means that it can become easily compromised, and as time goes on, it could cause all sorts of electrical hazards. Even in recent times, most insurance companies in B.C. have singled out this type of wiring as the principal cause of electrical fires in old houses.

3.     Outdated Equipment

As with old/worn out wirings and cables, equipment that has become outdated can also cause a host of electrical problems such as electrical fires, electrocution, etc. Several factors can contribute to electrical equipment becoming damaged; for instance, if an equipment wire gets chewed by a rodent or becomes rusty, it could cause the equipment to become damaged over time. The best way to solve this is to replace old electrical equipment with new ones. And if you only need to replace their part, do well to replace them before it cause unimaginable accidents.

4.     Outdated Practices and Electrical Systems

The saying that change is constant applies not only to our body and lifestyle but also to electrical safety standards and practices. Our world has changed tremendously…and quite frankly, it is still changing. Now, we have all kinds of electrical systems and equipment. The advent of these electrical systems has also brought about improvements in safety and installation standards.

In older houses, there are all kinds of electrical systems that are no longer recommended, and they need to be changed. For example, an outdated circuit breaker, lamp holders, wall sockets, etc.

5.     Not Enough Circuit Provisions

As we have previously mentioned, technology has improved tremendously; thus, the number of electrical equipment in the house has also increased. The problem now is as electrical devices increase in the house, that is the same way there will be an increase in power usage. While this may be a minor issue in modern houses, in older houses, however, an increase in power usage by these devices may cause all kinds of electrical problems, such as overloading of the circuit. In the worst-case scenario, wires could be overheating, which may cause electrical fires.

Call For a Thorough Inspection Today!

As a resident of British Columbia, if you live in an old building, you should look out for things like light flickering, Tripping circuits, and a burning wire smell. We say this because electrical problems often give signs before they turn into flown-blown issues. However, only some electrical issues give signs, so you need to hire our qualified electricians at CNA Electric Ltd. to perform a thorough inspection.