Long Island Residential Restoration

There is no doubt, maintaining a home requires a lot of work, dedication, and money. When it comes to improvements, renovations, and routine maintenance, homeowners can easily spend into the thousands without even realizing it. Many homeowners will agree the extra work and expense is worth it in the long run.

What Is Residential Restoration

Residential restoration is the process of returning a house to its original state. This process entails the restoration of all the major systems, including electrical, plumbing, roofing, heating, and air conditioning, as well as the interior and exterior.

When it comes to residential restoration, homeowners generally have two options – professional and DIY. Depending on your budget, skill level, and schedule, it may be possible to complete the restoration without professional assistance. Unfortunately, this is not an option for some homeowners because they lack the mechanical skills needed to complete the restoration.

In these cases, you have no other choice but to turn to the experts. This is not such a bad thing. In fact, it could very well be a good thing. If you hire the right residential restoration company, the entire project could be completed in half the time compared to the DIY route.

Restoring The Electrical System

One part of a residential restoration that most homeowners do not want to tackle DIY is the electrical system upgrade. This is a complex system that is comprised of electrical wiring, an electrical panel, circuit breakers, and/or fuses. Other components that may or may not be considered part of the electrical system is electrical receptacles (outlets) and switches. All of these components are connected to the electrical system utilizing a specific type of wiring – knob-and-tubing, aluminum, cloth-covered, and plastic-covered.

Depending on the age of your home, the electrical wiring may be considered “outdated.” Knob-and-tube, aluminum, and cloth-covered wiring are no longer deemed efficient or safe.

• Knob-and-tube wiring – This setup utilizes an installation process that more often than not leaves the electrical wiring exposed. The electrical wiring is wrapped around ceramic knobs, starting at the electrical panel and running all throughout the home.
• Aluminum wiring – This setup was commonly installed in homes for nearly a decade. Electricians began installing aluminum wiring in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings in the 60s. This continued for about a decade, at which time the setup was no longer considered safe.
• Cloth-covered wiring – Commonly utilized in homes before 1960, cloth-covered wiring was affordable, accessible, and efficient. Unfortunately, this is no longer the case. The cloth cover utilized to wrap the wiring has been shown to erode over time. The eroded fabric breaks free from the wiring, posing a fire hazard when making contact with exposed electrical wiring.

The latest electrical wiring utilizes a heavy-duty plastic sheath to prevent exposure. This wiring can be found in newer homes. When it comes to residential system restoration, outdated electrical wiring is replaced with plastic-covered electrical wiring.

Federal Pacific Electric (FPE) Electrical Panels

Like knob-and-tube and cloth-covered wiring, FPE electrical panels are no longer deemed safe. In fact, these electrical panels have been linked to electrical fires over the past few decades. The FPE Stab-Lok electrical panel is no longer recommended because it has been deemed “unreliable.”

Zinsco electrical panels have also been deemed “unsafe.” Evidence shows both Zinsco and FPE electrical panels are unreliable and need to be replaced with the latest technology.

Why Upgrade An Electrical System In Older Homes?

All of the above electrical wiring and electrical panels have been deemed unsafe and unreliable. They have also been deemed efficient, which means they can no longer keep up with the growing residential and commercial electrician needs.

If your home was built before 1980, there is a good chance that it has one of the following electrical systems. Contact H&A Long Island Electrician for a free residential restoration quote.