Why this matters
Electrical fires cause an estimated 50,000 house fires per year in the US. Most of them are preventable. The wiring in your home either meets modern safety standards or it does not. If it does not, the risk is real and ongoing.
The 7 signs
1. Your home was built before 1970 and has not been rewired
Pre-1970 homes were often wired with:
- Knob-and-tube: cloth-insulated copper, no ground wire, designed for 60-amp service
- Aluminum branch wiring: used in some 1960s-70s homes. Expands and contracts more than copper, loosening connections over time. A known fire risk.
If your home has either, the wiring is at or past its safe lifespan. The risk is not theoretical - knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring are two of the top causes of residential electrical fires.
2. You see frequently tripped breakers or blown fuses
Modern homes trip breakers when a circuit is overloaded. It happens occasionally. If it happens weekly, or when you run two specific appliances at the same time, the circuit is undersized for your current use.
This is not just an inconvenience. An overloaded circuit is also a fire risk, especially with older wiring.
3. Outlets are warm, discolored, or smell like burning
Stop using the outlet. Call an electrician. Warm outlets indicate a loose connection or an overloaded circuit. Discoloration means the outlet has been hot enough to scorch the plastic. Burning smell means a connection is actively failing.
All three are urgent. None of them are normal.
4. You have two-prong (ungrounded) outlets
Pre-1960 homes often have only two-prong outlets, which means no ground wire. Modern electronics need a ground to safely handle surges and faults. Without it:
- Sensitive electronics are at risk of surge damage
- The risk of shock from a faulty appliance is higher
- Many insurance companies will not cover the home, or charge higher premiums
Two-prong outlets can be replaced with three-prong (grounded) outlets if the wiring is updated to include a ground. A surface-mount GFCI can be a partial fix, but a full rewire is the only complete solution.
5. Lights flicker or dim when appliances run
When the microwave, vacuum, or HVAC kicks on, the lights dim slightly. This usually means:
- The circuit is overloaded
- The service panel is undersized for modern electrical use
- There is a loose connection somewhere
Modern homes with 200-amp service rarely do this. If yours does, an electrician can diagnose and fix it.
6. You see sparks when you plug something in
A small blue spark when you unplug a working appliance is normal. A larger spark, a yellow spark, or a spark that lingers is not.
Persistent sparking outlets indicate a wiring problem. Stop using the outlet and call an electrician.
7. Your insurance company has asked for an electrical inspection
Many insurance companies will not renew a policy on a home with knob-and-tube, aluminum branch wiring, or other outdated electrical systems without an inspection. If your insurer has flagged it, they are telling you the risk is real.
What a rewire actually involves
Scope
A full rewire of a single-family home involves:
- Removing old wiring
- Running new wire (usually Romex or equivalent)
- Installing a new service panel (often 200-amp)
- Adding grounded outlets throughout
- Adding GFCI protection in kitchens, bathrooms, garages, and outdoor areas
- Adding AFCI protection in bedrooms and living areas
- Permitting and inspection
Timeline
- 1,500 sqft home with crawlspace: 5-10 working days
- 2,500 sqft home: 7-14 working days
- Larger / multi-story / slab foundation: 10-20 working days
The home is usually still livable during the work, though some rooms will be without power for parts of the day.
Cost in LA
Full rewire costs in the LA area (2026):
- Apartment / small home: ,000-5,000
- Average single-family home: 5,000-0,000
- Larger or higher-finish home: 0,000-0,000+
Pricing depends on the size, the access (crawlspace vs slab), the panel upgrade, and the finish level (how much drywall repair is needed after).
When you do not need a full rewire
If your home was built in the 1980s or later and has had electrical work done, you may not need a full rewire. Common partial fixes:
- Service panel upgrade (100-amp to 200-amp): ,000-,000
- Adding grounded outlets: 50-00 per outlet
- Adding dedicated circuits for major appliances: 00-00 per circuit
- GFCI / AFCI breaker upgrades: 0-00 per breaker
Get an inspection first
Before you commit to any work, get a licensed electrician to inspect the home and tell you what is needed. A good electrician will give you a written report and a prioritized list of fixes, not a single blanket quote.
What to do if you see signs of trouble
- Immediate danger (smoke, burning smell, sparking): turn off the breaker for that circuit, call an electrician today
- Likely problem (warm outlets, dimming lights, tripped breakers): call an electrician this week for an inspection
- Older home, no recent inspection: schedule a whole-home electrical inspection this year
How to find the right electrician
- Licensed and insured in California (C-10 license for electrical)
- Pulls permits for the work (unpermitted electrical work is a major issue at resale)
- Gives a written quote after seeing the work
- Has references you can call
- Willing to explain the work in plain language
Avoid electricians who:
- Quote over the phone without seeing the job
- Suggest skipping the permit
- Cannot provide a license number
- Pressure you to commit on the spot
Ready to schedule an inspection?
If your home is more than 30 years old and has not had an electrical inspection in the last 10 years, you are overdue. The cost of an inspection is small. The cost of a wiring fire is not.
Call (818) 391-8797 to schedule a whole-home electrical inspection. We service the greater LA area and most inspections can be scheduled within a week.
*Not sure if your home needs a rewire? We will tell you honestly after the inspection.*