Electrical Maintenance Tips for Your Historic Louisville Home

​There is something so charming about Louisville's historic homes. While delightful, our Victorian-era houses tend to come with a few quirks and electrical woes. At Allen, we understand the eccentricities of your historic home, how to maintain it efficiently, and how to upgrade without losing that historic charm.
As your local expert electricians for over 40 years, we've served the Louisville area and improved and maintained electrical systems in residences across our city. Read on for our electrical maintenance tips for Louisville homes.

Stay On Top of Regular Maintenance

​As a homeowner, there are a few regular maintenance tasks you should be staying on top of to keep an eye on the electrical safety, energy efficiency, and lifespan of your electrical systems. Keep this checklist handy to make sure you catch electrical problems before they occur, and follow our safety tips to keep your home running smoothly! Of course, if electrical repairs are needed beyond what you're capable of handling, Allen Electrical offers maintenance services to help you stay safe and give you peace of mind.

Monthly Maintenance

​Once per month, set aside some time to dust your appliances, check that light switches and outlets are in good working order, and unplug any unused surge protectors or extension cords. Look out for unusual smells, sounds, or heat from outlets or switches, as those are signs that something is seriously wrong. Turn off the power and call an emergency electrician immediately. 

Quarterly Maintenance

​Every three months, you should check your outlets with a multimeter, consider upgrading any older appliances to be more energy-efficient, and check that outlets in your bathroom and kitchen are updated to GFCIs and AFCIs for safety.

Annual Maintenance

​Annually, you should get an electrical inspection by a licensed electrician. They will inspect your electrical panel and circuit breakers, inspect your outlets, check that you have a sufficient amount of voltage in your home, and recommend upgrades or repairs as needed.

Know Your Kentucky Electrical Code Requirements

Kentucky adheres to national and local standards that maintain the safety of your property's electrical system. You'll want to make sure to stay compliant not only for your family's health and safety but to avoid getting fined. Historic homes in Kentucky have an additional layer of requirements set by the Kentucky Historic Preservation Office in addition to the National Electrical Code (NEC) and Louisville City requirements. At Allen, our team makes sure your electrical project has the proper permits and is completed to code. For more on the specifics of electrical codes, check out our blog on this topic.

When to Make Electrical Upgrades for Historic Homes

Older homes often have inefficient systems that end up costing you more money in monthly energy costs than newer homes. Just like old windows that let out too much heat or older plumbing that can begin to leak, your electrical system needs to be monitored for possible improvements to avoid finding yourself in an emergency. Allen's emergency electrical service is available for sudden needs, but we also provide maintenance and electrical wiring services that can help prevent emergencies before they occur.
For many historic homes, a full overhaul isn't necessary. We often refresh electrical panels and update outlets as a great smaller step that can help bring your historic home into the 21st century.
From knob-and-tube wiring to insufficient power capacity for a modern home, Allen has seen many of the most common issues Victorian-era homes present, and we have solutions that maintain safety while preserving your historic home's charm. With years of experience working with these unique homes, we're the industry experts and your go-to for electrical work.

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​Some typical historic home electrical issues and how to troubleshoot them:

Problem	Solution
Not enough power to run home appliances	Upgrade your home's electrical capacity and outlets to make sure you can run your appliances safely.
Outlets aren't grounded	Working with an electrician to update these outlets will improve the safety of your home by reducing the risk of electrical shock.
Connectivity issues throughout the home	Aluminum wiring was used in some historic homes and can cause these issues. By replacing it with more modern wiring, you will improve your home's efficiency, function, and value.

Can I Upgrade My Home's Electrical System While Preserving Its Historic Charm?

​Yes! We work with homeowners of historic homes to update the electrical system to meet codes while keeping your home's aesthetic charm. From rewiring a historic light fixture to preserving the look of the space, we're here to ensure you enjoy your historic home for decades to come.

Baffled About Breakers? Worrying Over Wiring? Schedule an Inspection!

​Not sure if your home needs upgrading? A member of our team would be happy to examine your home's electrical system and determine where you could upgrade for better efficiency and how you could improve safety conditions and electrical capacity. Schedule with us today and give yourself peace of mind that your home's electrical system meets safety requirements.

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