Is Your Home Electrical System Safe?

One of the most common causes of house fires is electrical wiring. Old electrical systems are more likely than new systems to have faults that cause sparks and flames. Keep your home and your family safe by checking your electrical system to see if you should do any of the following. Replace wire insulation. Old houses often have wiring that uses cloth insulation, which can become brittle over time and lead to exposed wires. Hire an electrician to replace cloth insulation with plastic to extend the life of the wiring insulation. Consider installing a whole-house surge protector. Power surges can ruin your electronics — computers, blenders, lamps, televisions, blow dryers, cable boxes and other devices that you use on a daily basis. A power surge can end up costing thousands of dollars, but a whole-house surge protector only costs about 100 dollars and gives you valuable peace of mind. Check to see if your house was wired with aluminum. Aluminum wiring was commonly used in houses built in the 1960s and 1970s. Aluminum wiring is more prone to fires and shocks than copper wiring. Having an electrician update your wiring will make your home much safer.