- Apr 30, 2010
- 25,938
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One "hack" and old time electrician helped us with in our old ass house in Marblehead was to just add outlets instead of re-wiring. If you have room in your panel.
We added GCFCI to the Kitchen, under the windows for AC. Then just used the old outlets for lights. He said it safe because our current LED lightbulbs draw so much less than old lightbulbs. You can also replace an ungrounded 3 prong outlet with GFCI. Saved us thousands.
We still have some tube and knob electrical in places. We have room on the panel but it definitely needs to be upgraded.
I love the charm of older homes (we have a classic New England colonial, center fireplace in the living room...rumor has it that the first owners were friends with JFK who enjoyed a few libations in the basement bar), but a new build sounds dreamy.