An important part of your home maintenance strategy is ensuring your electrical system is safe. Improper installations, aging components, and other problems can cause electrical system issues. Safety inspections are essential for identifying existing hazards and preventing additional ones. Learn more about the purposes of inspections and their benefits in this guide.
What Does an Electrical Inspection Include?
An inspection is a comprehensive assessment that a licensed electrician conducts—the professional looks at your circuit breakers, outlets, wiring, and other components. Also, the electrician identifies any potential and existing hazards. These are some things electricians look for during an inspection.
Damaged or Outdated Wiring
Electrical wires deteriorate over time. When the insulation surrounding them breaks down, the risks of shock and electrical fires increase. Electricians assess the condition of the wires to look for damage or wear and outdated wires. For instance, aluminum wiring is outdated. It was popular in the 1960s and 1970s. Since it is prone to overheating, professionals often recommend replacing it.
Overloaded Circuits
Overloaded circuits have many appliances or devices connected to them. If there are too many, it can increase the risk of a fire. Electricians can tell you if you have too many things connected to a certain circuit and recommend additional circuits or panel upgrades when necessary. This is an important consideration if you recently added a lot of new appliances, an extra room, or something that requires significant power.
Faulty Circuit Breakers
A breaker cuts off electricity to a circuit if there is an overload, a short, or another fault. When breakers do not trip, they can cause overheating and fires. Electricians can test breakers to ensure they work correctly and replace circuit breakers that do not function correctly.
Grounding Issues
Adequate grounding helps prevent shocks and directs electricity into the ground. Outdated systems and improperly grounded outlets create greater fire and shock risks. An electrician can assess your system’s grounding to see if it meets modern safety standards. If you have ground fault circuit interrupters, an electrician will check those during an inspection. GFCIs help prevent shocks in areas with water. For example, you will often find them in kitchens or bathrooms. An electrician will recommend installing GFCIs if you do not have them in areas where they are important.
Electrical Panel Safety
Your electrical panel is responsible for distributing power to your home’s circuits. If your panel is outdated, it can create safety hazards. This is also true if the panel was improperly installed or cannot handle the electrical demand of all your appliances and devices. Safety inspections are also important to see if your panel is damaged. If any issues exist, an electrician may recommend a panel upgrade.
Fire Hazards
During an inspection, an electrician will look for fire hazards, such as loose connections, frayed wires, and exposed wires. Although some issues may not be easy to see, an electrician knows how to identify dangers. The electrician will also recommend any necessary actions to prevent fires.
Benefits of Electrical Safety Inspections
Regular inspections provide plenty of benefits, including peace of mind that your home is safer. These are some of the top advantages of scheduling regular inspections.
Preventing Electrical Fires
Reducing electrical fire risks is the top benefit. The National Fire Protection Association says that electrical malfunctions are the most common cause of house fires. Many people who experience house fires do not schedule regular inspections. An inspection pinpoints issues before they turn into dangerous fires.
Boosting Energy Efficiency
If you have an outdated electrical system, it may be inefficient in comparison with a modern system. That increased energy consumption can lead to higher utility bills. A safety inspection identifies inefficiencies, and an electrician can recommend upgrades to improve efficiency.
Maintaining Regulatory Compliance
Staying compliant with codes ensures that your system is safer. Electricians inspect your system to see if it complies with current National Electrical Code standards. If there are any safety violations, professionals can tell you how to fix them. Code compliance is especially important when you plan to sell your home, and violations can negatively impact your house’s market value.
Protecting Electrical Components
Inspections help prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your electrical system. Problems with your system can negatively affect devices or appliances you connect to it. When professionals identify issues early, they can extend the life of system components and devices that require electricity.
Enjoying Peace of Mind
Knowing your system is safer can reduce your worries about fires and other electrical hazards. If you have a family with smaller children, you can appreciate that peace of mind even more.
Schedule Your Electrical Safety Inspection in Niceville
Although people often schedule inspections when they buy or sell a home, it is smart to schedule them regularly. This is especially important if your home is more than 20 years old, you added new appliances, or you recently finished renovations. Also, it is important if you notice flickering lights, tripped breakers, or buzzing outlets. If you know you have aluminum wiring or outdated panels, schedule an inspection immediately. It is important to ensure that your system meets the latest safety requirements.
Are you ready to determine whether your system is safe or needs improvement? An electrical system inspection from Mister Sparky will help you find fire risks, circuit problems, and more. Our trained electricians know exactly what to look for and how to find hidden problems. They will communicate their findings to you and discuss any recommended actions. Let our team help you achieve the peace of mind you deserve. Don’t hesitate to contact us to learn about electrical safety inspections in Niceville, Florida.