7 Signs Your Lamp Needs Rewiring
Warning signs that a lamp's wiring is unsafe and should be replaced.
Warm or discoloured plug
A plug that feels warm to the touch, or shows brown scorching around the blades, means resistance is building where it shouldn't. Stop using the lamp.
Cracked or stiff cord insulation
Rubber and cloth insulation dries out. If the jacket flakes when you flex it, copper is one bump away from being exposed.
Flicker when the cord moves
Intermittent contact is the classic symptom of a broken conductor inside the jacket.
A switch that needs coaxing
Worn socket contacts arc internally long before they fail completely.
Buzzing or a faint ozone smell
Both point to arcing. Unplug the lamp and have it inspected.
Two-prong cords on metal lamps
Older ungrounded cords on heavy metal bodies are worth upgrading.
It's simply old
Anything over roughly forty years on original wiring deserves a bench inspection.
When to call a professional
Anything involving internal wiring, heat, arcing or a valuable antique is worth a professional opinion. Our estimates are free, and we'd rather tell you a lamp is fine than have you guess. Call (303) 895-0782 or request a quote.