Electrical fires cause thousands of home fires every year in the United States, and outdated wiring is a leading contributor. If your home was built before 1980, there's a real chance the wiring inside your walls isn't up to modern safety standards. Here's how to know if your home needs rewiring — and what to expect if it does.

Types of Outdated Wiring to Watch For

Knob-and-Tube Wiring

Common in homes built before 1950, knob-and-tube wiring consists of individual conductors run through ceramic knobs and tubes. It has no ground wire, which means it can't support three-prong outlets or modern appliances safely. It also degrades over time and can be a fire hazard if it's been modified improperly or covered with insulation.

Aluminum Wiring

In the late 1960s and 1970s, aluminum wiring was used in many homes as a cheaper alternative to copper. The problem: aluminum expands and contracts more than copper, causing connections to loosen over time. Loose connections create heat — and heat creates fire risk. Homes with aluminum wiring require special attention at every connection point.

Two-Prong Outlets Throughout the Home

If your home has mostly two-prong (ungrounded) outlets, it's a sign the wiring predates modern grounding requirements. Ungrounded outlets can't protect sensitive electronics and don't meet current code for most applications.

Cloth-Insulated Wiring

Wiring from the 1940s–1960s often used cloth or rubber insulation that dries out and cracks over time. Cracked insulation exposes live conductors — a serious shock and fire hazard.

Warning Signs You Shouldn't Ignore

Beyond the type of wiring, watch for these red flags:

• Flickering or dimming lights not caused by a specific appliance
• Outlets or switches that feel warm to the touch
• Burning smell from outlets, switches, or the panel
• Discolored or charred outlet covers
• Breakers that trip frequently on the same circuit
• Buzzing or crackling sounds from outlets or switches
• Outlets that spark when you plug something in

Any of these symptoms warrant an immediate call to a licensed electrician. Don't wait.

What Does Whole-Home Rewiring Involve?

Rewiring a home is a significant project, but it's far less disruptive than most homeowners expect — especially with an experienced crew.

Assessment and Planning

We start with a thorough inspection of your existing wiring, panel, and service entrance. This tells us exactly what needs to be replaced and what can stay.

Permit and Inspection

All rewiring work requires permits and a final inspection by the local authority. We handle the permit process and coordinate the inspection — you don't have to worry about it.

The Work Itself

Our electricians work room by room, running new copper wiring through walls, installing new outlets and switches, and connecting everything to a new or upgraded panel. We take care to minimize drywall damage and patch as we go.

Final Inspection and Cleanup

Once the work is complete, we schedule the inspection, walk through the finished work with you, and make sure everything is labeled and documented.

How Long Does It Take?

A typical whole-home rewire for a 1,500–2,500 sq ft home takes 3–5 days. Larger homes or those with complex layouts may take longer. We'll give you a realistic timeline before we start.

Is It Worth It?

Absolutely. Beyond the safety benefits, rewired homes are easier to insure, more attractive to buyers, and ready for modern electrical demands. Many homeowners combine rewiring with a panel upgrade and outlet additions to get everything done at once.

Cory Butts Electric & AC LLC is fully licensed (E TECL 35476) and insured to handle rewiring projects of any size across Lampasas and the Texas Hill Country. Call or text 512-556-6818 for a free assessment.