When Was Your Last Check-Up?
Your home’s electrical system is constantly working and like anything else, it will eventually wear out and fail. Unfortunately, failures in an electrical system can be catastrophic, leading to fire and electrocution hazards. Regular check-ups, or electrical inspections, can keep your home’s electrical system safe and give you peace of mind.
When Do I Need an Electrical Inspection?
An electrical inspection of your home should be a priority if your home is older than 15 years, or you are considering the purchase of a new home.This is especially true if the home has any renovations, including a finished basement.
You Own an Older Home
Older homes can have outdated and brittle wiring. Connections that were once good can now be hot spots. It is a common misconception that your electrical system will last forever. Did you know that breakers only have a life expectancy of about 20 years and smoke detectors expire after 7-10 years? Over the years, more and more electrical loads have been introduced to the average household. There are a lot more conveniences in the home now than there were 20 years ago and the electrical safety codes have changed in order to accommodate this. Insurance companies are insisting that older homes with 60 amp services are upgraded to handle the electrical loads of today’s lifestyle.
You Own a Newer Home Without a Recent Inspection
With the speed that newer homes are being built, workmanship can suffer leading to electrical hazards. Work being done in the fastest, most economical fashion can lead to cutting corners on code standards and ultimately lead to electrical failures, including fires. We have seen as many electrical issues in new homes as in older homes in the last 10 years. If your home has not been inspected in the last few years, it is recommended that you hire a licensed electrician to perform an inspection.
You Own A Home With Major Renovations or a Finished Basement
Many homeowners will do their own renovations, including the electrical work. A safety hazard could be waiting in the walls or in the ceiling. How do you know if everything is up to current code standards? If a contractor was used, how do you know if the previous owners hired someone who knew what they were doing? The truth in most cases is that you don’t. The only way to know for sure is to bring in a licensed and experienced electrical contractor.
When Purchasing a New Home
Getting an electrical inspection and being prepared before making an offer on a new home can save you unwanted surprises after closing. Electrical issues in older homes such as aluminum wiring or an outdated panel can prevent you from getting home insurance until they are replaced. This can potentially cost you thousands of dollars if you don’t catch them before you close. We often hear ‘Why didn’t our inspector catch this?’ from homeowners who are denied insurance until the electrical issues in their purchased home are resolved. Unfortunately, a general home inspection does not always catch these issues. It is recommended that you get a separate electrical inspection and even a plumbing inspection before purchasing a home.
Ensure Your Safety With Regular Electrical Home Inspections
The professionals at Westridge Electric offer a basic electrical home inspection at no extra charge to each customer as a part of each and every service call. For an additional cost, we can also perform a more thorough Electrical Inspection for home insurance purposes.
