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By: KW Webber
In this section we will study various time periods and a few issues that should be looked after when considering carrying out any old house upgrades. 1. Electrical in a 1920's Home When updating a 1920's property the wiring installed was known as "Knob & Tube" because it was strung alongside wooden framing on ceramic knobs and passed through lumber via ceramic tubes. If you have this type of wiring in your home it is necessary that you arrange to have this upgraded as soon as possible as it is unsafe for a number of reasons. 2. Replacement of Steel Water Pipes Steel water pipes were used in residential and commercial properties from 1900 to 1940 and although they worked well for the first 20 years or so after that they begin to rust shut (much like an artery becomes clogged). In a short while you will take note of the fact that your water pressure has diminished if you have these types of pipes in your home or else you may not notice anything is wrong until a pipe actually ruptures. So it is vital that you change any sort of steel water pipes in your home before the problems begin to surface. 3. Wall Insulation Depending on the climate where you are located many places did not have protection from the cold and the insulation below the roof often was not much better. However, if you wish to upgrade the insulation of your old home then why not purchase blown in insulation. It is only necessary to have a small hole to be drilled in each outer surface and then the contractor you decide on can blow in the insulation to fill the empty space and so warm up your own home. 4. Asbestos Heating Pipes and Ducts Up until the 1940's asbestos was used as insulation for heating systems. As we have recently discovered, this stuff is toxic you will need to arrange for an professional company who is qualified in dealing with asbestos problems to come in and take it away. You should also have them reinsulate your pipes with a non-toxic material. You can save money at this stage to actually decide to upgrade the complete heating system to be upgraded as well. 5. Undersized Electrical Systems Many older residences will need to have their electrical systems upgraded as often they will have one room or a couple of rooms on the same circuit. You may discover that as soon as the compressor starts on the refrigerator the lighting in your living room begin to dim. To fix this problem you should arrange for a licensed electrician to come in and inspect the wiring of your unitandmake arrangements to have it renewed as they see fit. 6. Upgrading Your Windows Because most of the windows constructured during the 1940's and 1960's were made of poor quality steel or aluminium you will probably have to look at upgrading them in order to properly protect your home from the weather. There are many companies around who can produce windows which will reflect the design of your home without you having to lose out on your comfort. Before you get your hammer out, study the above items as these are some things which will need to be considered when carrying out such a project.
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