Rewiring Older Homes: When It’s Necessary and Why It Matters

Many older homes and buildings in Wilkes-Barre were built long before today’s electrical demands. While the wiring in these properties may still function, it often isn’t safe or sufficient for modern living. Rewiring is one of the most important upgrades Wilkes-Barre homeowners and property owners can make to protect their investment, prevent hazards, and keep their families safe.

Signs Your Home May Need Rewiring

Wilkes-Barre is filled with homes that carry decades — sometimes more than a century — of history. Many of these properties have seen multiple owners, renovations, and patch‑work repairs over the years. Walls get opened and closed, additions get built, and old wiring is often spliced, extended, or quietly covered up. Because of that, it’s not always obvious what’s happening behind the walls.

Older homes often show warning signs that wiring needs attention:

Frequent breaker trips or blown fuses
Flickering or dimming lights
Discolored outlets or burning smells
Lack of grounded outlets
Mixed or mismatched wiring from different eras

These issues shouldn’t be ignored, especially in a city where many properties have layered electrical history. Hidden outdated wiring can increase the risk of electrical fires and lead to system failures when you least expect them

Why Rewiring Is Important

Older wiring systems in Wilkes-Barre homes weren’t built for the electrical load we place on them today. From modern appliances to constant device charging, the demand on older systems is far greater than what they were designed for decades ago. Rewiring not only protects your home and family — it also helps reduce wasted energy, cut monthly costs, and keep your electrical system running efficiently.

Safety Benefits of Rewiring

Eliminates outdated or damaged wiring that increases fire risk
Improves grounding and reduces shock hazards
Ensures older circuits aren’t overloaded by modern appliances
Removes hidden splices and patched repairs common in older Wilkes-Barre homes
Brings your home up to current electrical code for long‑term safety

Cost & Energy Efficiency Benefits

Reduces energy waste from inefficient or deteriorated wiring
Creates more stable power flow, improving appliance efficiency
Helps lower monthly electricity costs with updated components
Reduces strain on your electrical panel and overall system
Prevents the expensive repairs that come from repeated electrical issues

For Wilkes-Barre homeowners — especially those upgrading historic homes or adding new electrical appliances — rewiring ensures your system stays safe, efficient, and ready for modern living.

Increases Home Value and Insurance Approval

Rewiring an older Wilkes-Barre home isn’t just about safety — it’s also one of the smartest ways to protect and strengthen your long-term investment. Modern wiring shows buyers that the home has been responsibly maintained, reduces the chances of failed inspections, and helps avoid costly last‑minute repairs during a sale.

Insurance companies also look more favorably on properties with updated electrical systems. New wiring lowers fire risk, which can help prevent higher premiums or policy issues.

Rewiring can:

- Increase resale value
- Prevent failed inspections
- Reduce insurance issues or higher premiums

Trust Local Experts

Rewiring is a complex project that requires licensed professionals — and local experience matters. Catman Electrical Contracting knows Wilkes-Barre homes inside and out. From the old plaster-and-lath walls in historic neighborhoods to the varied building materials used across the city, we understand how these structures were built and how to upgrade them safely and cleanly.

Our team brings decades of experience working on Back Mountain, Wilkes-Barre, and surrounding NEPA properties, ensuring your rewiring project is handled with care, precision, and full code compliance.

If your home is older, rewiring isn’t just an upgrade — it’s an investment in safety, comfort, and peace of mind.