The chances are that lots of people don’t think about their electric outlets or plug sockets much.
But outdated electrical components can damage your property’s system and pose a health and safety risk.
Read on to learn why it’s vital to upgrade your electric outlets when they get old.
1. Outlets and wires degrade
Outlets and wires can start to degrade after as little as 5 years in your home. As wiring ages it settles and individual wires can start touching. This can lead to arcing, sparking and even fire.
This is why it’s a good idea to get your wiring inspected by an electrician every few years.
2. Older outlets can overload
Currently, technology is developing fast and is being used more and more. If you have fairly old electrical components then they might not be able to cope with how much you’re using them.
If your electrical components can’t keep up with how much you’re using them then they could supply too much or too little electricity to your appliances. This could make your lights flicker or damage your appliances.
3. Older components don’t meet safety regulations
The most recent UK wiring regulations came out in 2008. These state that all electrical installations should have RCDs. RCDs, or Residual Current Devices, automatically cut off the electrical supply to an outlet if it becomes unsafe. So if the outlet gets overloaded or wet then an RCD will cut off the power supply to reduce the likelihood of fire or injury. Electrical circuits that don’t have RCDs are hazardous and don’t comply with wiring regulations.
Upgrading your electrical components isn’t a complicated job. A qualified electrician will be able to replace your fuse box, light switch and plug sockets easily. They’ll also be able to check if the rest of your installation is safe.
If you’re searching for an electrician to check or upgrade your electrical outlets, we can help. Fill in our online form and we’ll connect you with up to 4 local professionals.