Electrical Home Safety Inspections

Electrical Home Safety Inspections

The safety of your home and its occupants is always top of mind. But when was the last time you thought about the safety of your electrical system?

Each year, hundreds of people in the U.S. are electrocuted in their own homes. In older homes, outdated electrical work may not be up to code, and today’s greater electrical needs can result in overloaded circuits. Improperly used extension cords, faulty or damaged wiring, and poorly insulated wires can lead to electrical fires.

According to the Electrical Safety Foundation, there are four major times when your home should be inspected by a licensed residential electrician:

• If you are purchasing a home (new or older)
• If your home is more than 40 years old
• If you are installing a new appliance (washer, dryer, refrigerator)
• If your home is undergoing renovations

Benefits of an Electrical Safety Inspection

An electrical home inspection is important for the safety of your home and everyone in it. Getting your home’s electrical system checked by a professional will offer you peace of mind by:

• Ensuring the safe operation of electrical components in your home
• Identifying common electrical mistakes made by contractors and previous DIY homeowners
• Recognizing outdated wiring such as aluminum or knob-and-tube
• Identifying electrical wiring and components that may have degraded over time
• Spotting oversized fuses or breakers that could lead to fire
• Helping you save energy and reduce costs

Apart from that, anytime you feel there are electrical problems in your home that could pose a safety hazard, you should contact us for an electrical home safety inspection. It is critical that these home electrical safety inspections be done by a licensed electrician.

Electric Panels

This is the electrical nerve center of your home. Whether it is in the garage, the utility room or somewhere outside, we will thoroughly examine the fuses and/or circuit breakers for proper connections, damage, age, rust, residue, smoke etc. We will check that the panel is providing sufficient electrical capacity for your home’s needs. We will also check whether your electrical panel is a brand that has been recalled or discontinued.

Electrical Wiring

We will check that all visible wiring is up to code and in good shape without any exposed splices. We will make sure cables are secured and protected. We will also double check the following issues many older homes run into:

• Pre-1950’s “Knob-and-tube” wiring.
• Aluminum cable for branch circuits, which can cause a fire hazard. (Often found in homes built between 1965-1973.)

These old wiring configurations can create safety hazards as well as making it harder to get the home insured or to sell the home.

Electrical Systems in Wet Areas

Any electrical systems that are near water need to be especially inspected and updated. This usually means areas in the bathrooms, kitchens, workshops or outdoors. The outlets in these areas must have GFCI outlets (“Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters). These GFCI outlets are programmed to cut electricity to that area if exposed to water. We will test these during an inspection, and we advise homebuyers to check these during any pre-purchase walkthrough.

Interior and Exterior Lighting, Outlets and Switches

We test whether all the lights, switches and outlets are properly grounded. Loose outlets, warm outlets, humming noises, lights that flicker or switches that spark are a sign that something needs to be tightened, repaired or replaced.

Other Home Electrical Aspects 

In addition to these four main concerns, we will also walk through your home and note any safety issues you might have with:

• Surge protection
• Shock and fire hazards
• Proper lighting wattage
• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
• Child electrical safety issues