Electrical Inspections Can Help Spot Safety Hazards
Learn how electrical safety inspections can identify hazards and keep your home safe. Get tips from Service Minds Mister Sparky in Florida.
Your home’s electrical system is what allows you to watch television or keep your home illuminated at night. It may also be what allows you to cook food, keep water hot and dry your clothes. Therefore, it’s important that you keep an eye on it to ensure that it operates safely and at peak efficiency at all times. Scheduling regular safety inspections can make it easier to spot potential issues before they become difficult or expensive to fix.
What Happens During an Inspection?
During an inspection, a professional will look at every individual electrical component in your home. This means that someone will inspect wires, outlets and light fixtures to ensure that they are all in working order.
A professional will also look at the electrical panel or fuse box to ensure that it is working well and is suitable for your home. If you have an electric heat pump, hot tub or generator, the inspection will include those outdoor items as well.
In the event that anything looks old, worn or not up to code, you will be encouraged to replace those items immediately. Typically, outlets last for about 20 years while wires tend to last between 20 and 30 years. Electrical panels also last for about 20 to 30 years assuming that they are properly installed and maintained.
How Often Should an Inspection Take Place?
There is no hard rule as to how often you should have your home’s electrical system inspected. However, you’ll typically need one when obtaining or renewing a homeowner’s insurance policy as the insurance provider needs to know that everything is up to code.
You may also want to schedule one if you have done some DIY electrical work. This is a good idea even if you think that you’re a competent handyman because a minor error could cause serious damage or bodily injury if not caught. In fact, it might be worthwhile to have an inspection done after a contractor performs electrical repairs or upgrades just to be safe.
An inspection might also be worthwhile if you’re planning on having your HVAC system upgraded. It can also be worthwhile prior to any major home improvement or remodeling project. This is because you’ll know ahead of time whether you need to upgrade your electrical system to handle the increased load.
Ideally, you’ll have your home’s electrical system inspected if you’ve lived in your house for more than a few years and haven’t had an inspection yet. This will help to ensure that issues that might have been noted during the initial home inspection haven’t gotten worse.
Finally, be sure to have a professional check out your house if there are signs of potential issues. These signs may include dimming or flickering lights, a burning smell from an outlet or a circuit that turns off on a regular basis.
Defects That Might Be Discovered During an Inspection
There are a number of critical defects that might only be found during an inspection. For instance, a professional may discover a frayed or loose wire that you wouldn’t be able to see if an outlet or fixture cover wasn’t removed. A professional may also alert you to a lack of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in your home. These are typically located in kitchens and bathrooms and prevent issues from occurring during periods of wet or humid conditions.
A professional may also discover aluminum wiring, which is outdated and not as safe as copper wiring. In addition, a professional might find that an electrical panel isn’t properly installed, is too old or simply doesn’t have the capacity to power your home safely.
What to Do After Hazards Are Revealed
If any hazards are revealed during an inspection, you will ideally have them remedied as quickly as possible. This is because a frayed wire, burnt outlet or other issues could be the catalyst for a house fire. In some cases, frayed wires may also indicate a rodent or pest issue or other problems that need to be taken care of as quickly as possible.
An electrical system inspection may help you avoid serious repairs or maintenance costs for years to come. It may also make it easier to get insurance or sell your home in a timely manner. If you are in need of professional assistance, don’t hesitate to contact the folks at Mister Sparky today.