As houses age, they need maintenance. Some maintenance is obvious and manageable, but other things can get tricky.
When it comes to wiring and electricity in the house, things can feel very tricky. Do you ever have to replace things like electrical boxes?
The answer is that sometimes you do, but there’s a bit more information to cover on this topic, so let’s dive into it.
Can Electrical Boxes Be Too Old?
In a word, yes. Electrical boxes do age, and eventually, they lose integrity and need to be replaced. Each box has its own warranty and/or age rating, so there is no magic number to tell you exactly when a box is ready for replacement. On average, boxes last between 25 and 40 years if they are not exposed to extreme environments. This means the boxes inside of your walls usually last for multiple decades.
Keep in mind that some boxes fail or age prematurely, so there are no guarantees here, but you don’t need to annually replace every box or anything like that. In fact, you can look for signs of age and then respond.
How Can You Spot Signs of Age?
It might seem weird to talk about spotting signs of age in electrical boxes. After all, most of them are hidden behind walls and ceilings. Even the ones you can see are made of tough materials that often don’t show signs of wear. Fortunately, if you know the signs, you can spot them pretty easily, and until your boxes show signs of wear, they do not need replacement.
Panels
Electrical panels, like your circuit breaker, are visible. You can inspect them every once in a while to make sure everything is in good repair. You are looking for visible signs of damage. Cracks, dents, black marks, or burn marks all indicate a serious problem that merits a conversation with an electrician.
Some signs of wear don’t appear on the panels themselves. Instead, unsteady power is your big sign. Persistently flickering lights or uneven power in the home could be related to a failing power. For example, if your microwave struggles to deliver consistent power (especially if multiple devices have this kind of problem), it could be an issue with the panel.
When panels do need repair or replacement, the work has to be certified by an electrician.
Other Boxes
The other boxes in your home are usually hidden. Every outlet and light switch has an electrical box behind it, and these are the kinds of boxes we’re discussing.
Even though you can’t see the boxes directly, you can see signs of age related to them. If an outlet or switch shows signs of discoloration, that’s a big red flag. Cracks, burn marks, or anything that looks out of place around outlets and switches also need attention.
If you ever need to replace a switch or outlet in the home, go ahead and check the box while you’re at it.
Do You Have to Replace Boxes in Older Homes?
Eventually, electrical boxes will need replacement. When you see the signs of wear listed above, it’s best to go ahead and replace the box. This prevents worse problems. An aged box can fail, and that creates electrical and fire risks.
Whether or not you can replace a box without an electrician depends on regulations in your area, so always check to be sure. When in doubt, let an electrician do the job. It’s safer, and you’ll know for sure that everything is up to code.
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