Outdated or insufficient wiring is so much more than an inconvenience; it’s a safety hazard. There is a much higher consumption of electricity today than ever before, meaning that you need wiring that can meet these increasing demands.

Rewiring is a major job—and one that should only be handled by professional electricians—however it can be vital to keeping you and your family safe. But how do you know if it’s time to rewire your home? Be aware of the following 5 signs.

Old age is the enemy of most appliances and components in your home. The average age of a home in America is about 30 years old. If this is the case for your home, and it still has its original wiring, then chances are it’s outdated and needs an upgrade.

The 21st century has brought us a plethora of technological advancements and electronic devices and appliances. This includes smart phones, tablets, gaming systems, exercise equipment, and so much more. Electrical systems are simply not equipped to handle all of this, particularly if your home was built in the 80’s or prior. It just puts too much strain on your wiring.

Do you plan on eventually selling your home? If your wiring is outdated, then many buyers and even mortgage lenders may be discouraged. Wiring in older homes often doesn’t meet National Electrical Code standards, which a rewire can help solve.

Overloading electrical outlets—in a best case scenario—will cause your circuit breakers to trip. It also leads to overheating, fire, or electrical shocks. By investing in a rewire, you can add more outlets and switches, bringing your house up to date.

Other signs that it is time to rewire your house include visibly worn electric cables, electrical shocks from appliances, sockets, and switches, outlets and cords that get warm from use, fuses that blow regularly, frequent power outages, and the use of two-pronged outlets rather than three-pronged.

As the summer temperatures soar, people are more inclined to stay indoors for the most part. This also means, they want the temperature in their homes to be cool and comfortable. While no one wants to compromise on the comfort factor by using their HVAC systems sparingly, they are eager to curb electricity costs.

This seems like a catch 22 situation; but there are some simple ways in which you can maintain cooling in your home, and save on electricity too:

Instead of setting the air conditioning at a very low temperature, use ceiling fans or oscillating fans in conjunction with the AC system. You can set the air conditioner to a higher temperature as that will help maintain cooling in the room; the ceiling fan helps keep you cool as it aids in air circulation; you end up saving money as your ac doesn’t have to operate on a lower temperature.

When you are purchasing appliances, devices or lighting fixtures, opt for ones that have a high energy rating. This will ensure you save a significant amount of money on your utility bills.

It’s very common for us to keep mobile chargers, power strips and other appliances such as microwave ovens etc. switched on, even when we are done using them. It’s best to turn these off instead as that too helps in reducing your electricity expenses in the summer time. Any savings you make in this way help absorb the increase in cooling costs, that’s bound to happen in the summer time.

The AC filters should be replaced with regularity and the entire system maintenance should be done as per schedules recommended by the manufacturer. In most instances, a monthly check helps ensure that the unit is operating efficiently.

Operate and set the thermostat as per the outdoor temperatures. If your home is empty, you should turn up the system as the house wouldn’t require cooling.

The natural sunlight that streams in through the large glass windows and doors in your home also brings in a certain amount of heat. Use UV protective tint on the glass panels and draw the shades and curtains from inside. While this will make the indoor spaces darker, it can help reduce the stress and strain on your HVAC system, which in turn reduces utility costs. You should also shut the doors and vents of rooms that aren’t being used.

When the sun is shining bright, there is no reason to continue using the dryer; hang your laundry out in the open. Dyers are energy-guzzlers and you can easily eliminate this expense in the summertime when the climate is perfect for drying laundry outdoors.

When the summer months bring in the sweltering heat, you would want to keep your home cool without having to pay prohibitively high energy bills. The points we discussed above will help you reduce these costs to a certain degree. These simple things followed with regularity can go a long way in helping you cut down on your utility bills.

In our previous blog, the professionals at Electrical Gurus gave out some ways tips for increasing the safety of holiday decorations throughout the holiday season. Today, we’ll share even more ways to safely and effectively decorate your home this holiday season.

Even if the lights are unplugged when you’re hanging them (which is advised), be sure to never use nails, screws, or tacks to hang your Christmas lights; instead, opt for clips for interior and exterior applications. This will keep your wires from accidentally becoming nicked or frayed during or after the hanging process, which can get dangerous quickly.

Never use extension cords that don’t feature ground or are not rated for outdoor usage outdoors to avoid electrocution risk. Furthermore, it is especially advisable to only plug lights into GFCI outlets, especially if they are plugged into the exterior of your home. These outlets will essentially shut themselves off in the event of a short, which is crucial to avoiding safety concerns.

Always use timers for decorations and lights to prevent yourself from forgetting to turn them on or off. Lights should never be left on when nobody is home, which is why it is advisable to turn them off during daytime hours when the family is out-and-about. Timers keep your home safe by preventing power from flowing through the lights during the day, automatically activating them in the evening hours.

Large decorations, cords, and lights should all be kept well away from tripping hazards. Of special note is extension cords, which should never be allowed to cross walkways without proper coverage. Ideally, extension cords shouldn’t be run along open space in any way. If someone trips over one decoration, then odds are all attached decorations are at risk for getting dislodged or damaged.

If your home has the proper circuit breakers, there is little risk of a fire starting from overloading an outlet; that doesn’t mean it is wise to plug in numerous strands of lights into a single outlet. Spread the burden of lights and decorations across numerous breakers whenever possible to avoid taxing your electrical panel too much in certain areas. If your home is not equipped with a circuit breaker and still uses outdated fuses, please give us a call right away to talk about upgrading your panel.

We hope you’re safe this holiday season, but if you happen to overload your circuit breakers or have a concern about the lighting of your holiday decorations, be sure to give us a call right away. The electricians at Electrical Gurus want to help to keep every Des Moines family happy and healthy throughout the holiday season.

Flickering lights do not always signify a serious issue with your electrical system. What’s more important to note is which lights flicker and how. This is a relatively common issue that can have a variety of explanations. To get a better idea of how to address your flickering lights, tailor your solution to the specific situation.

If none of the above apply, try investigating the light switch itself next. Switch the light on and off a few times to see if the flickering dies down. If not, you may have a faulty switch that needs to be replaced by an electrician. Similarly, if you replace the bulb on a plug-in lamp and it still isn’t working, try plugging the lamp into a different outlet. It’s possible that the issue could be stemming from the socket. This type of issue should also be troubleshooted by a professional, as in-depth electrical work can be dangerous.

If you’re not sure what might be causing the problem, it’s wise to call a licensed electrician to check it out. The tips above can help you narrow down what might be going on, but doing risky electrical work yourself isn’t recommended.