# Maintaining Residential Electrical Wiring – 3 Surprising Dangers to Look out For

- Link: https://studyelectrical.com/2022/09/maintaining-residential-electrical-wiring-3-surprising-dangers.html
- Published: 2022-09-06T06:13:47+00:00
- Author: Tesla

Home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year, according
to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). While having your home’s
electrical system inspected by a qualified electrician can ensure that your system
meets the safety requirements, there are additional ways that you can reduce your
risk [of an electrical fire](https://studyelectrical.com/2022/01/electric-safety-5-rules-you-need-to-know.html).
From the risks associated with common pests to how outdated wiring — and even extension
cords — can pose a threat, here are just three surprising hidden dangers to look
out for.

## **The dangers of outdated wiring**

Older homes might have a lot of charm, though those with outdated electrical systems
can be a major risk factor when it comes to fires. For example, homes wired with
aluminum wire manufactured before the year 1972 are actually 55 times more likely
to have one or more connections that will reach fire hazard conditions than a home
that’s wired with copper, according to the CPSC.

Central County Fire goes on to explain that this is primarily due to the deterioration
processes in the aluminum, which causes an increased resistance to the flow of electricity.
In turn, this can result in overheating, with signs of a problem including flickering
lights, circuits that don’t work, the smell of burning plastic at outlets/switches,
and face plates on receptacles/switches that are hot to the touch.

Fireresucue1.com further highlights the risk of outdated wiring in homes, noting“
If a home is over 20 years old, it may not have the wiring capacity to handle the
increased amounts of electrical appliances in today’s average home, such as computers,
wide-screen televisions, video and gaming players, microwaves and air conditioners.”

## **How pests can create a fire hazard**

While rodents are well known to be health risks due to their capability to spread
diseases, they can also pose a threat to your home’s electrical wiring system as
well. Unfortunately, small, round electrical wires and their location within your
home’s walls present the perfect opportunity for rodents to chew on should they 
happen to enter your house. In turn, a rodent chewing on your electrical wires can
cause major issues to your home’s wiring, and can put you at a tremendous risk of
an electrical fire, highlighting the importance of eliminating rodents altogether.
That said, prevention is key when keeping rodents away from your electrical wires.

Eliminating a rodent’s opportunity to enter your home to begin with is the easiest
way to do this, and can be done by sealing any cracks or openings on the exterior
of your home as well as by trimming any branches that allow for a rodent to access
your house, too. 

Maintaining a clean environment indoors is another way to keep rodents at bay, while
pest control measures can aid in [preventing rodent related electrical damage](https://hawxpestcontrol.com/tips-for-keeping-rats-and-mice-away-from-wires)
as well. For instance, rodent-resistant cable sleeves can be a great investment 
for exposed and at-risk wiring. However, should you happen to notice the hallmark
signs of a rodent in your home (aka scratching behind the walls, droppings, or even
electrical issues like flickering lights or power), calling an electrician is essential
in order to determine whether or not your wiring is safe or needs to be worked on.

## **The dangers of electrical overloads**

Electrical overloads are another major safety issue, and are one that can often 
go overlooked, as plugging in an extension cord can generally be seen as a quick
and convenient fix when in need of extra outlets. However, doing this can actually
lead to an overloaded circuit, which is designed to only handle a certain amount
of electricity.

While this can be generally prevented by refraining from overusing extension cords,
Kentucky Living notes that various warning signs can point to an overloaded circuit,
and includes those such as outlet switch covers that are warm to the touch, flickering
lights, frequently tripped circuit breakers, and burning odors coming from outlets
or switches, to name just a few. Kentucky Living further goes on to recommend locating
your circuit panel if you do notice an overload, and checking to see if any of the
switches in the panel have been tripped before turning them off and back on again.
If the issue happens again when an extension cord isn’t plugged in, calling an electrician
is the recommended course of action. 

Due to the prevalence of electrical fires, it’s imperative to maintain your home’s
system, which can be done in various ways that can often go overlooked. From keeping
rodents at bay to refraining from the overuse of extension cords and ensuring your
home’s wiring is up to date, you can ensure that your home’s wiring is safe from
various threats.

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