In the current world, most homes are overwhelmed with electrical cords, appliances, and fixtures. Old homes don’t have enough outlets and power. Modern homes may not have them in the right places. Our electrician Arcadia sees these examples all the time. Our current generation depends on electrical devices more than anything. Think about it: you wake brew your coffee, toast your bread, take out your milk from the fridge, heat up your oatmeal on the microwave, turn on your TV and computer, charge your phone, and finally sit down. You look around and there are your children playing on the Ipad, and listening to music. You haven’t even been awake for one hour and look how many appliances you’ve already used!
The electrical panel and circuits of your home are of extreme importance for every appliance to run smoothly and safely. That is why electrical home inspections exist. Electricians will inspect your system to ensure it is in top condition. They will use the standards set by NEC electrical code, along with their professional training and expertise.
Now the million-dollar question: If we send a professional electrician to inspect your home today, would it pass the inspection?
Most Common Electrical Problems of Homes
The standards for household electrical control are high. If you haven’t had your home inspected for five or ten years, there’s a good chance an upgrade will be needed.
Below are some of the most common problems encountered on inspections:
- Non-updated or faulty smoke and fire detectors
- Modern devices installed in old wiring systems
- No GFCI in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, outside the house or any room of your home that may be exposed to water
- No dedicated sockets for large appliances (e.g. stove)
- Old and outdated wiring
- Using pull chain lighting instead of wall switches
- Knob and tube wiring
- Overcrowded wiring
- Wiring in contact with insulation or another wiring
These are some of the most common problems. The problems are often present if the home is old and was never updated, or if it was updated by a handyman for example. We have seen frustrating situations of homeowners spending hundreds of dollars on electrical work that did not pass an electrical inspection because it was done improperly. Consequently, it resulted in spending more dollars on having it done properly and safely.
Inspection for Residential Electrical Systems
Most people only have their home inspected when something is wrong, or when they are selling their home. The buyer usually orders an electrical inspection before purchasing the home to make sure everything is okay. Sometimes big surprises happen here that can jeopardize the entire sale and have the buyer back out because the home is not safe, or it will cost a lot of money to fix. Generally speaking, this is when the seller is responsible for all the costs regarding the safety of the home, in order to keep the deal alive.
To avoid unsafe situations and surprise expenses, you should keep an eye on common signs that something is wrong with your system. Call an electrician promptly if you suspect something is wrong and let them inspect and fix what needs to be done. For example:
- Flickering lights – usually a sign it needs to be inspected ASAP, especially if your electrical system is old and outdated
- Tripping breakers – this problem can happen for various reasons, but you don’t know the reason until someone comes to check it out
- Some outlets don’t work – this is often a sign that something else is wrong in the system
Inspection for Commercial Electrical Systems
The same goes for commercial properties. In addition to that, it is recommended that commercial properties should be inspected every five years.
We hope this article helped you understand the importance of checking your electrical system early rather than later. Prevention and acting early are key.