5 Signs Your Home Needs an Electrical Update

Is Your Home's Electrical System Keeping Up?

Many homes in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs were built decades before today's electrical demands existed. A house built in the 1950s or 1960s was designed for a fraction of the devices, appliances, and electronics that modern families use daily. An outdated electrical system is not just inconvenient — it is a fire hazard. Here are five signs that your home needs professional electrical attention.

1. Frequently Tripping Breakers or Blown Fuses

Circuit breakers trip when a circuit is overloaded — this is a safety feature. But if you are resetting breakers regularly, it means your circuits cannot handle the load your household requires. This is especially common in older homes where kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices share circuits that were originally designed for far less demand. The solution is typically adding dedicated circuits for high-draw appliances and areas.

2. Flickering or Dimming Lights

Occasional flickers when a large appliance starts are normal, but persistent flickering or dimming indicates a problem. Causes range from loose wiring and poor connections to an overloaded circuit or a failing electrical panel. Loose connections are a leading cause of electrical fires, making this symptom one to address promptly.

3. Warm or Discolored Outlets and Switch Plates

Outlets and switch plates should never feel warm to the touch. Heat indicates loose connections, overloaded circuits, or deteriorating wiring behind the wall. Discoloration or scorch marks around outlets are even more urgent — they suggest arcing, which can ignite surrounding materials. If you notice these signs, stop using the outlet immediately and call a licensed electrician.

4. Over-Reliance on Extension Cords and Power Strips

If every room in your home requires extension cords or power strip chains to function, you do not have enough outlets. Beyond the inconvenience, daisy-chaining extension cords and overloading power strips are common fire causes. Modern building codes require outlets every 12 feet in living areas and on every kitchen counter space wider than 12 inches. An electrical update adds outlets where you need them and ensures each circuit has adequate capacity.

5. Outdated Electrical Panel

Homes with panels rated at 60 or 100 amps often cannot support modern electrical loads. If your panel uses fuses instead of breakers, it is almost certainly due for an upgrade. Some older panel brands — including Federal Pacific, Zinsco, and certain Pushmatic models — have documented safety issues and should be replaced regardless of capacity. A modern 200-amp panel provides the capacity most families need today with room for future additions like EV chargers and solar systems.

What an Electrical Update Involves

Depending on your home's condition, an electrical update may include panel replacement, new circuit installation, GFCI and AFCI protection, outlet additions, and rewiring. R-Deco works with licensed electricians to assess your home's electrical system and provide a clear plan and estimate for bringing it up to modern standards safely.