YOUR RESIDENTIAL SERVICE COMPANY • ELECTRICIAN • FIREFIGHTER OWNED • LICENSE & INSURED
YOUR RESIDENTIAL SERVICE COMPANY • ELECTRICIAN • FIREFIGHTER OWNED • LICENSE & INSURED
![[HERO] 5 Common Electrical Issues in Older Dearborn Homes](https://cdn.marblism.com/drzyXn6BfaE.webp)
Dearborn is full of character. From the historic neighborhoods near Michigan Avenue to the tree-lined streets of west Dearborn, these homes have stories to tell. But here's the thing about older homes: while they've got charm for days, their electrical systems? Not so much.
If your Dearborn home was built before the 1960s (or even the 1980s), there's a good chance your wiring is working way harder than it should be. Back when these houses were built, nobody was running multiple TVs, a home office setup, central air, and charging five devices at once. The electrical systems just weren't designed for modern life.
As a licensed electrician in Dearborn, we see the same issues pop up again and again in older homes. Some are minor inconveniences. Others? Genuine safety hazards. Let's break down the five most common electrical problems we encounter: and what you can do about them.
This is the big one, and it's more common in Dearborn than you might think.
Knob-and-tube wiring was the standard from about 1880 to the 1940s. It uses ceramic knobs and tubes to run wires through your walls and joists. The problem? There's no ground wire, and the insulation deteriorates over time. When that happens, you're looking at exposed conductors: and a serious fire risk.
Aluminum wiring was popular in the 1960s and 70s when copper prices spiked. It seemed like a good idea at the time, but aluminum expands and contracts more than copper. Over the years, connections loosen, and loose connections mean heat. Heat means potential fires.
Cloth-insulated wiring is another vintage find. The fabric covering breaks down, cracks, and exposes the wires underneath.
If your home has any of these old wiring types, it's not a "wait and see" situation. You need a professional inspection. At Husch Electric, we're firefighter-owned: we've seen firsthand what electrical fires can do to families. We take this stuff seriously.
Picture this: your home's electrical panel is like the heart of your electrical system. It pumps power to every room, every outlet, every appliance. But if that heart was sized for 1955, it's going to struggle in 2026.
Many older Dearborn homes still have 60-amp or 100-amp service panels. Modern homes typically need 200 amps to handle everything we plug in these days. When your panel can't keep up, you'll notice:
An undersized panel isn't just annoying: it's dangerous. Overloaded circuits generate heat, and heat causes fires.
An electrical panel upgrade brings your home's capacity into the modern era. We'll assess your current and future power needs and install a panel that can handle it all. Plus, if you're thinking about adding an EV charger, hot tub, or home addition down the road, now's the time to plan ahead.
Take a walk around your older Dearborn home and look at your outlets. See those two-prong outlets? That's a red flag.
Two-prong outlets mean there's no ground wire. Grounding provides a safe path for electricity to travel if something goes wrong: like a short circuit or a power surge. Without it, that excess electricity has nowhere to go except through your appliances, your wiring, or worst case, you.
Then there's GFCI protection (those outlets with the little "test" and "reset" buttons). GFCIs are designed to shut off power instantly if they detect electricity flowing where it shouldn't: like through water. They're required by code in bathrooms, kitchens, garages, and outdoor areas. But in older homes? They're often completely absent.
Upgrading to grounded, GFCI-protected outlets is one of the most cost-effective safety improvements you can make.
Here's a scenario we see all the time: a homeowner needs more outlets, so they add a power strip. Then another. Then they daisy-chain them together. Before long, one circuit is powering a TV, gaming console, computer, space heater, and a lamp.
That circuit was never designed for that kind of load.
Overloaded circuits happen when too many devices draw power from the same circuit. The wiring heats up, insulation can melt, and you've got a fire waiting to happen. In older Dearborn homes, this problem is amplified because there simply aren't enough circuits to begin with.
Adding dedicated circuits for high-draw appliances (like your refrigerator, microwave, washer, dryer, and HVAC) takes the strain off your existing wiring. We can also add more outlets throughout your home so you're not relying on power strips.
If your Dearborn home still has a fuse box instead of a circuit breaker panel, it's time to upgrade. Fuse boxes aren't inherently dangerous, but they come with some real drawbacks:
Beyond the panel, outlets and switches wear out over time. The connections inside can burn out, loosen, or corrode. If you've got outlets that spark, don't hold a plug snugly, or just don't work at all, they need attention.
Look, some home projects are great for DIY. Electrical work? Not one of them. Michigan requires electrical work to be done by licensed professionals for good reason: it's dangerous, and mistakes can be deadly.
Here's when you should definitely call an electrician:
At Husch Electric, we're not just licensed and insured: we're firefighter-owned. We understand the real-world consequences of electrical hazards, and we bring that perspective to every job.
Here's what sets us apart:
Whether you need a quick outlet replacement or a full panel upgrade, we're here to help keep your family safe.
Older Dearborn homes are worth preserving: but not at the expense of your safety. If you've noticed any of the issues we've talked about, or if it's just been a while since a professional looked at your electrical system, reach out to us.
We'll give you straight answers, fair pricing, and peace of mind. That's the Husch Electric promise.
