The electrical system is an essential comfort system for any home – so understanding the benefits of electrical inspection is critical. It’s sometimes easy to take for granted that our lights, appliances, and entertainment systems will work on demand. Your electrical system warrants periodic inspection to ensure that it is up-to-date, safe and functioning properly. This will help prevent costly repairs due to malfunctions and keep you and your family safe.
Safety Benefits of Electrical Inspection
Perhaps the most important benefit of making sure that your home’s electrical system is functioning properly is safety.
Faulty electrical wiring is responsible for more than 45,000 electrical fires across the country every year and results in hundreds of thousands of dollars of property damage. Faulty wiring is the cause of nearly 500 deaths each year from electrical fires.
Additionally, faulty wiring can cause your appliances, smartphones, televisions, and other electrical devices to overload, causing irreparable damage.
Simple maintenance of your home’s electrical system can protect from these dangers.
Save Money By Fixing Inefficient Components
By replacing older, outdated electrical components with newer, state-of-the-art versions, will help keep your electrical system functioning as efficiently as possible. This optimizes electrical consumption and can help save money on electricity bills.
Your electronics will thank you too. An efficient electrical system helps support performance and longevity of electronic devices.
Staying Up to Date with Housing Codes
Newer homes are built with existing electrical compliance codes in mind. Older homes, however, may have been built before some industry standards came into existence.
For example, current electrical codes require whole house surge protection which protects electronics from damage, especially during a power outage.
An electrical inspection can reveal if your system falls short of the latest code standards, what can be done to bring it current, and give you the peace of mind knowing your house is up to current safety standards.
Proactively Identify Damage
There are some readily apparent signs of an inefficient or potentially damaged electrical system. Some of these include:
- Flickering Lights: This is a common first sign of faulty or loose wiring. Once you have ensured that the light bulbs are properly installed, if the lights are still flickering then it’s an indication it might be time for an electrical inspection.
- Burning Smells: The smell of fire, smoke, or other burning, could be a sign of electrical sparking. This occurs when there is a loose wire or faulty connection, and it is the number one reason behind electrical fires.
- Discolored Outlets: If you notice that any of your wall outlets seem to have brown or black spots on them, or if they spark when you try to plug something in, it’s a good reason for an electrical inspection.
- Two-pronged Outlets: Many modern appliances require three-pronged outlets which are properly grounded. Two-pronged outlets are not properly grounded which can increase the risk of electrical fire if used inappropriately. An electrical inspection can identify if any two-pronged outlets are in a location, such as a kitchen or bath, that may require upgrading.
- Circuit Breaker Tripping: If you have circuit breaker that is tripping frequently, it could be a sign that the system is not robust enough to hand the strain that modern appliances are putting on it. It may be time to upgrade the panel.
Keeping an eye out for these warning signs can help prevent fire or costly repairs in the future.
Avoid Malfunctions
Damaged wires or connections in your electrical system not only increase the chance of an electrical fire in your home, but also increases the risk of damage to your electronics.
Anything connected to a frayed wire or faulty connection, including computers, televisions, smartphones, or appliances, can be damaged irreparably as the result of a power surge.
Prevent possible damage and loss by scheduling a professional electrical inspection today.
FAQs: Benefits of Electrical Inspection
Electrical systems can be a confusing and worrisome subject for any new homeowner. We’ve compiled a list of our most common electrical system questions below.
1. When should you rewire an old house?
The type of wiring in your home will greatly affect the longevity of your electrical system. If your home is more than 30 years old, there is a good chance that your wiring could use some upgrading. If the wiring in your home is more than 45 years old, it’s time.
There have been many technological advancements and new code requirements for electrical systems in recent decades. It is a good idea to have your house updated to these newer, safer system standards.
2. How often should an electrical system be inspected?
Having your electrical system checked by a professional every 3-5 years can help prevent costly and unexpected surprises and potential safety hazards from occurring.
Reach out to our electrical team today for more information about the benefits of electrical inspection. Please schedule an appointment to have your electrical system checked!
