Free tool
Old-Home Electrical Checker
Pennsylvania Electricians built this old house electrical checker for Pennsylvania's older homes. Pick when your house was built and tick what you can see, without opening anything. You'll get a plain list of what's worth an electrician's look and why, with sources. It doesn't rate your house as safe or unsafe; only an electrician who tests it can.
2. Tick anything you can see or have noticed
Look from the outside only. Don't remove the panel cover or outlet plates.
Your list
Pick your house's age, tick what you've seen, and press Show My List.
Background: homes built before 1940 make up 57% of Reading's housing, 54% of Lancaster's, and 49% of York's (U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2020–2024).
How the checker works
Each item maps to a published reason an electrician would want to look. Aluminum branch wiring comes from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, which found homes wired with aluminum were 55 times more likely to have a connection reach "fire hazard conditions" than copper-wired homes. Warning signs like warm outlets, frequent trips, and flicker follow the Electrical Safety Foundation International. Panel brand and replacement cost figures are from HomeAdvisor. Nothing you tick is sent anywhere.
Next steps: when to rewire an older home, signs your panel may need an upgrade, and the Pennsylvania electrician cost guide.
Questions
Checker questions
Can this checker tell me if my wiring is safe?
No. It can only tell you which things you've noticed are worth an electrician's look, and why. Whether wiring is safe takes testing and an inspection by a qualified electrician.
How do I tell if my house has knob-and-tube wiring?
Without touching anything, look at exposed joists in the basement or attic for single wires running on white porcelain knobs or through porcelain tubes. Two-prong outlets throughout the house are another hint. An electrician can confirm how much is still live.
What does it mean if my main breaker says 100?
That's your service size in amps. 100 amps can work for a smaller home with gas appliances, but it gets tight with central air, electric cooking, a heat pump, or an EV charger. A load calculation by an electrician tells you whether it's enough.
Connect With an Electrical Professional
Call and we will try to connect you with a participating independent electrician who serves your area.