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    Cloth/Rubber Wiring

    Property value in Toronto has risen dramatically in the last decade or so. If you own an older home in Toronto, it’s probably something you’re proud of and want to protect. However, having an older home in that area gives rise to certain concerns. It is highly likely that your home has cloth/rubber wiring.

    If this is the case, it is crucial to have your cloth electrical wires replaced. Contact licensed residential and commercial electrical contractors in Toronto like Langstaff and Sloan.

    Rubber/Cloth Electrical Wire

    From the 1940s to the early 1960s, cloth-covered electrical wires were a popular choice. Residential and commercial electrical contractors in Toronto used them for all manner of new home constructions. It was around the mid-1960s when this type of residential wiring was replaced. Due to significant risks, they were replaced by more modern and safer plastic-coated wiring.

    Risks of Cloth/Rubber Wiring

    There are several significant risks to having cloth covered electrical wires. All affected homeowners should be aware of the following:

      • It pre-dates the temperature rating of electrical wires
        Wires (and light fixtures) today are typically rated for 90 degrees Celsius. The past generation of wiring was at 75 degrees. The ones before that were at 60 degrees. Wires didn’t even have temperature ratings before that.It is important to know that Ontario rubber insulation installations get very brittle after being used for half a century. Due to the heat from the wiring, bulbs above light fixtures are typically the first to get damaged.
      • It does not contain a bonding conductor
        Proper grounding and bonding prevent shocks. However, cloth electrical wires came before bonding/grounding of all branch circuit wiring happened. This is a cause for significant concerns. Untended, these may trigger electric shocks that can lead to:

        • Cardiac arrest
        • Muscle, nerve, and tissue destruction
        • Thermal burns
        • Falling
        • Other potentially fatal injuries

    ESA grounding and bonding need to be conducted for your safety.

    Selling Your House

    Putting your home on the market is another important reason for replacing cloth electrical wires. Prospective buyers will most likely conduct a home inspection. This means discovering the risks and dangers of having cloth covered electrical wires.

    One of three things can happen:

    1. Prospective buyers won’t make an offer
    2. They will make a below-market offer to offset the rewiring costs
    3. Oblige you to replace the wiring by licensed electricians in Toronto before finalizing the deal

    Instead of taking the risk, turn your home’s wiring from a liability to an asset. Proactively solving the problem by yourself will lead to more benefits in the long run.

    Your Expert Residential and Commercial Electricians in Toronto

    Do you have an older Toronto home that needs to be assessed? Or are you planning to sell your property soon? Let Langstaff and Sloan take care of your home’s electrical needs. We know our way around cloth covered electrical wires. We can replace your wires as well as recommend ESA grounding and bonding services.

    Learn more about how we can provide advice and options for safely replacing your cloth electrical wires today. Contact us and find out why we are one of the most trusted electrical contractors in Ontario.

    Call 416 503-2033