Living in an Older Home? What an Electrical Company in London Ontario Looks For

London is full of homes with character. Brick houses in Old North, cottages in Wortley Village and postwar bungalows all across the city. They have charm you can’t find in a new build. But behind the plaster, the wiring may be decades old and built for a very different way of living.

Maybe the breaker trips every time the microwave and kettle run together. Maybe half your outlets only take two-prong plugs, or your insurance company has started asking questions about your wiring. If any of that sounds familiar, a trusted electrical company in London, Ontario can tell you what you’re dealing with and what actually needs fixing. Here’s what they look for, and how to plan upgrades without turning your home upside down.

Why Do Older Homes Need a Closer Look?

Homes built 50 or more years ago were designed for a few lamps, a fridge and maybe a radio. Today, the same house might be running air conditioning, a home office, a big-screen TV, an induction range and an EV charger.

Many older homes also have smaller electrical service. It’s common to find 60-amp service in older houses, while most modern homes have 100 amps or more. When demand grows but the system doesn’t, you get tripped breakers, warm connections and a panel that’s working harder than it should.

What Does a Residential Electrician in London Ontario Check?

A residential electrician in London Ontario will look at the whole system, not just the problem you called about. Here are the most common things they find in older homes.

Knob-and-tube wiring

This is an early wiring method, often found in homes built before the 1950s. It has no ground wire, and after decades the insulation can become brittle. Some insurance companies ask for an inspection or replacement before they’ll cover a home that has it.

Aluminum wiring

Some homes built from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s used aluminum for branch wiring (the wires running to outlets and switches). The wire itself isn’t the main issue. The connections are. They can loosen and overheat if they aren’t made with compatible parts. An electrician can recommend safe repair options.

Fuse boxes and older panels

Fuses aren’t dangerous on their own, but fuse boxes often mean limited capacity. They also make it easy for someone to install the wrong size fuse, which removes the protection the fuse is meant to provide.

Two-prong outlets

Two-prong outlets have no ground. Using a three-prong adapter doesn’t change that.

A three-prong adapter doesn’t ground an outlet. It only hides the problem.

Missing modern protection

Newer homes have GFCI outlets (outlets that cut power quickly if they sense a leak to ground) near water, and many new circuits need AFCI protection (breakers that detect dangerous sparking in wiring). Older homes often have neither.

What Warning Signs Should You Watch For?

Call a residential electrician if you notice:

• Breakers that trip or fuses that blow often
• Lights that dim or flicker when appliances turn on
• Outlets or switch plates that feel warm
• Scorch marks or discolouration around outlets
• A burning smell with no clear source
• Extension cords used as permanent wiring

If an outlet is hot or smells like burning, stop using it right away and get it checked. Don’t try to open it up yourself.

Buying or Selling an Older Home?

A general home inspection is a great start, but home inspectors look at a lot of systems in a short time. If the report mentions knob-and-tube, aluminum wiring, a fuse panel or “recommend evaluation by a licensed electrician,” take that seriously.

Example: A buyer finds out during inspection that the house has knob-and-tube wiring in the upstairs bedrooms. By getting an electrician’s assessment and written quote before closing, they know the real cost and can factor it into their decision, instead of finding out after they’ve moved in.

Do You Have to Rewire the Whole House?

Not always. Many homeowners upgrade in stages, which spreads out the cost and the disruption. A common approach looks like this:

1. Deal with safety issues first. Anything overheating, damaged or clearly unsafe.
2. Upgrade the panel and service if capacity is the problem.
3. Focus on high-demand rooms like the kitchen, bathroom and laundry.
4. Tie the rest into future renovations. Rewiring is easier and cheaper when walls are already open.

How Do You Choose an Electrical Company in London Ontario for an Older Home?

Do they have experience with older homes?

Plaster walls, tight attics and decades of past repairs make older homes trickier. Ask whether they’ve worked on homes like yours.

Are they licensed?

Make sure the company holds an ESA licence and will handle the required permits and inspections.

Do they explain your options?

A good electrician explains what’s urgent, what can wait and what each option costs. Be wary of anyone who pushes a full rewire without showing you why.

Do they respect your home?

Ask how they’ll protect floors and finishes, and how they plan to limit wall damage.

Protect Your Home’s Charm and Your Family’s Safety

An older home doesn’t have to mean unsafe wiring. With the right assessment and a sensible plan, you can keep the character you love while bringing your electrical system up to today’s needs.

Working with an experienced electrical company in London Ontario gives you clear answers and honest priorities. And when you have a residential electrician in London, Ontario who knows older homes, upgrades become manageable, one step at a time.