Does my house need rewiring? Signs and what to do

Whether a house needs rewiring cannot be decided by age or by looking at the walls. The reliable answer is an inspection by a licensed electrician. Warning signs include frequent tripping, flickering lights, burning smells, visibly damaged cables and heavy reliance on extension cords. Treat burning smells and heat as urgent.

How old is too old for wiring?

Sources give different ages at which wiring starts to be a concern, and there is no single number that applies to every home. Wiring can last a long time if it was installed well and has not been damaged, overloaded or altered. Older homes may also have had parts rewired over the years, so one house can have wiring of several ages.

The more useful question is the condition of the wiring and whether it can cope with how you use power today. A licensed electrician can inspect the installation and tell you.

What warning signs should I watch for?

Signs that are worth getting checked include:

• circuit breakers or safety switches that trip often
• flickering or dimming lights
• a burning or hot smell, or buzzing, from power points, switches or the board
• power points or switches that look scorched or discoloured
• cables you can see that are cracked, brittle, frayed or have exposed wires
• needing many power boards or extension cords because there are too few power points

You can notice these by looking and listening. You cannot check inside the walls, and you should not try to.

What does a licensed electrician look at?

An electrician can inspect the switchboard, test circuits, check the condition of accessible cabling, power points and fittings, and tell you what, if anything, needs to be done. Sometimes the answer is a targeted repair, a switchboard upgrade or adding protection such as safety switches. Sometimes it is a partial or full rewire. They can explain the options so you can decide.

In Queensland, electrical work must be done by a licensed electrician, and the Electrical Safety Office Queensland is the regulator.

Will insurance cover problems with old wiring?

Policies differ, and electrician websites make different claims about insurance and wiring. Ask your insurer directly what your policy says, and keep the paperwork from any electrical work.

Should I rewire before buying or renovating?

A pre-purchase or pre-renovation inspection by a licensed electrician can show what you are taking on. It is useful before adding large loads, such as solar, an EV charger or air conditioning, because old wiring may not suit them.

Why does wiring become a problem over time?

Cable insulation can age. Very old cables may have cloth or rubber insulation that becomes brittle with age, and connections can loosen over the years. Homes also use more power than they did when they were first wired, with more appliances, more electronics and often air conditioning.

Overloaded or deteriorating wiring can overheat, which is why warning signs should be taken seriously even when they seem minor.