Answers About Electrical Inspections
Electricity is critical to modern homes. Massive amounts of power are available throughout your home and are used for everything from charging a cell phone to heating water for a shower. In an ideal world, all of that potential energy waiting in your wiring would stay there until it was needed to run an appliance.
However, having such comforts carries with it certain risks. Faulty electrical wiring is still the main cause of damage in house fires and also a significant electrocution hazard. Technology is constantly improving to prevent the hazards that electricity carries with it, but new technology is useless without proper implementation.
Whole-home electrical inspections seek to find potential electrical hazards before they can become a serious issue. With the knowledge obtained from a whole-home electrical inspection, you can make the choice to update your home and prevent the dangers that come with an outdated electrical system.
What Are Whole Home Inspections?
Whole-home electrical inspections are a detailed check of all the components in your home’s electrical system. There are a host of reasons to have your home’s electrical system checked.
Some of these include:
- Moving Into a New Home: Having the electrical system inspected in a new home verifies that the wiring and panels are up to date and that all changes from the original system have been done properly.
- Performing a Renovation: During a renovation is the best time to rewire portions of your home and update it to the newest safety codes.
- Living in a Home Older Than 40 Years Old: Homes older than 40 years old often have outdated aluminum or knob and tube wiring. Not only is this wiring outdated and potentially dangerous, but it is also often incompatible with new, copper-based appliances and components.
- Installing New Appliances: As appliances change, so does their need for electricity. New appliances may need more power than older appliances and, thus, will require a different gauge wire to be installed.
- Checking Work From Other Contractors: If you are having any work done through a general contractor, make sure he is subcontracting a licensed electrician. If there is any doubt, you can call for an inspection from a third-party contractor to verify that the work is being done safely.
By having a whole home inspection performed, you can prevent small issues from becoming larger.
Electrical Inspection Process
During an electrical inspection, an electrician will check a variety of issues, including:
- Verifying Switch and Outlet Operation
- Confirming Proper Grounding of the Whole System
- Light Bulb Wattage Checks
- Confirmation of Proper Wiring Materials
- Checking GFCIs and AFCIs
- Electrical Panel Inspection
Findings will be provided to you in the form of a report with advice on what fixes are necessary and how to best go about them.
Professional Electrician Services
Electricity is not something to mess around with if you don’t know what you are doing. Professionals train for years to be able to perform their job safely and effectively.
While the temptation may be to do the job yourself and save money, you may put yourself and your property at risk of damage or destruction.
Additionally, most insurances and warranties are voided by work performed by a non-professional. Conversely, licensed electricians are trained and have special insurance that protects them and you from any accidents or problems that may occur as a result of their work. When in doubt, it is always safer to call for professional assistance.
About Electrical Connections LLC
For unmatched, safety-driven care, Electrical Connections LLC is the name Gaithersburg, MD, residents trust. Our electric and lighting services help all their neighbors live in comfort and safety. So if you’re ever looking for electricians, they can satisfy all your prevention, safety, and monetary needs.
