Many modern American homes were constructed significantly before many modern Americans were born. We have homes that have been around since the Victorian Era and before, with all that that implies. Many houses are rife with out of date, unsafe electrical wiring, insufficient or toxic insulation, or other structural problems best corrected for the health and safety of anyone currently living there. Flicking on and off the light switches is nowhere near sufficient as a way to test the efficacy of any home’s electrical wiring. The intricacies of electricity extend further than simple functionality.

Before the 1940s, electricity was often done in a knob and tube wiring style that is currently vastly out of date. People should not assume that previous tenants or homeowners updated their electricity systems without inspections, since repairing knob and tube wiring was very expensive years ago. Knob and tube wiring is unsafe and prone to problems, but it is also highly inconvenient. Home inspections and getting your home wiring checked can save families significant time, money, and heartache in the long run. People that live in houses constructed around or before the 1940s, and especially between 1880 and 1940, are strongly encouraged to get their homes inspected. Licensed electricians can tell you if the wiring in your home poses an increased risk of fire or electrocution on a large scale, or inefficiency and proneness to blackouts on a small scale.

Knob and tubing wiring was never fitted with a grounding conductor for safety back in the pre-War period. Knob and tubing wiring used to have advantages in terms of cost, but today, the price of labor tends to outstrip the cost of material. Many knob and tubing wiring systems do not have enough branch circuits to suit the needs of a typical modern household, and will strain to supply the necessary electrical load. The amount and intensity of electrical equipment required by an Information Age resident substantially outstrips anything the people of the 1940s could have expected. Knob and tubing wiring left over from decades previously may well have been damaged further by renovations over the years, wear and tear, and various household pests, which only increases the risk of problems.

There are very few situations where a knob and tubing wiring system is legally installed today, according to building codes. Insurance companies are increasingly denying coverage to homes that have not upgraded their wiring from knob and tube wiring to a more modern power cables system. Updating your home’s wiring can add a substantial amount of money to your resale value, so families will increase the value and safety of their homes by updating them to meet modern electricity specifications.

While ductwork can be quite efficient and effective in its distribution of conditioned air throughout a home, this is only the case when that ductwork is in impeccable working condition. Air leaks in ductwork are among the most common causes of efficiency drops in residential cooling systems. By eliminating the need for air ducts entirely, you can eliminate the risk of such air leaks in your home.

When using a ducted HVAC system, you can also utilize a zone control system in order to better regulate the distribution of heated and cooled air throughout your home. With a ductless system, though, this level of control is just part of the package. Such systems use individual, wall mounted blowers in order to distribute conditioned air directly to the spaces in which they are installed. Each is controlled by its own, individual thermostat. This allows you, the user, to set different temperatures in different areas.

You can have a designated ductless AC system, but you may also choose to utilize heat pump technology in order to both heat and cool your home with one convenient system. When you do, your ductless mini slit system will be able to absorb existing heat from the air outside, and to use that heat in order to efficiently warm your home. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule ductless AC services with trained professionals.

One of the reasons that boilers continue to stay popular as a method for home heating is that they can last for many years without needing major repair work, and their lifespans are longer than most other home heating systems. A well-cared for boiler can keep a whole generation of people in a home cozy.

FB Electrical Services offers boiler maintenance in Somerville, MA. Whatever services you need to keep your boiler working for you, you can trust to our talented team to provide it for you. We offer 24-hour emergency service for your convenience and peace of mind.