House wiring does not last forever. Insulation hardens and cracks with age and heat, and older homes were never wired for today’s ACs, geysers and EV chargers. Use this checklist to judge whether it is time to rewire.
Warning signs
- Switches, sockets or plug tops that feel warm or make a buzzing sound.
- Lights that flicker or dim when a heavy appliance switches on.
- A faint burning or plastic smell, or discoloured/scorched socket faces.
- Frequent MCB trips or blown fuses.
- Too few socket points, so extension boards are used everywhere.
Age & type
- Wiring older than about 25–30 years, especially if never upgraded.
- Old aluminium house wiring, or wiring with no proper earthing.
- Rubber-insulated or brittle, cracking insulation.
If several of these apply, have a licensed electrician inspect the installation and quote for a rewire with modern fire-safe, correctly-sized cable and an updated distribution board.