Electric house inspection provides in-depth inspection of your entire electrical system, ensuring that all electrical cables, systems, and components (such as devices) meet legal safety standards. The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the code that all electricians use when inspecting your home and defines the parameters of the minimum standards in the United States. After completing the house inspection, you will have a report with details on what was checked and what needs to be done. You will notice that some are of more importance than others.
When do you need an electrical inspection to your home?
- There are times when homeowners need to schedule an electrical Home Safety Check:
- Housing purchase
- When the house is 40 years old or older
- When adding a new appliance or device (especially if big)
- When the estate underwent a major repair
- When something is wrong with your electrical – e.g. flickering lights, tripping breaker, many outlets stop working at once
Why Should You Do an Electrical Inspection?
Electrical house inspections are important for the safety of
your home and everyone inside. Checking your home electrical system by a
professional gives you peace of mind:
- Ensures safe operation of electrical components in your home
- Identifies common electrical failures by contractors and previous homeowners – important if you are buying a home
- Checks for old cables such as aluminum or knob and tube wire
- Verifies faulty or old wiring and components that may fail overtime
- Detects oversized fuses or switches that could cause a fire
- Helps you save energy and reduce costs
- Ensures compliance with insurance risk assessment requirements
Will You Pass or Fail an Electrical Inspection?
For homes, most official home electrical checks are ordered
at the time of purchase or in case of a problem that seems difficult to
diagnose. Prevention and regular maintenance is the best way to ensure you will
pass a home inspection when you need to. Otherwise, here are the most common
reasons why some homes fail an electrical inspection:
- Knob and tube wiring
- Overcrowded plugs and circuits
- Poor wiring placement and quality
- Problems with smoke and fire detectors
- New devices installed in faulty wiring systems
- Sockets in kitchens, bathrooms, utility rooms, and outside the home is not upgraded to GFCI
- Lack of special circuits for large appliances
- Pulling cord to turn on light and no wall switches
Commercial vs Residential Inspection
We recommend hiring an accredited professional inspector in
whichever case. For commercial properties it is recommended to have is
inspected about every 5 years. For residential homes, you can stretch it to
about 10 years if nothing else changed in your electrical systems, such as new
big appliances, overcrowding of wiring, and no electrical problems.
Ensuring the safety of your home should be a priority for you and your family. Avoid unnecessary risks and additional costs if you can. Moreover, keep up with your electrical system and upgrade when needed.
