Berkeys / Berkeys Blog

August 15, 2016

Understanding the Importance of an Electrical Home Inspection

Whether you are looking to purchase a new home, sell or renovate your house, or simply want peace of mind – having an electrical home inspection done on your property should be a high priority. Inspecting the electrical installations of a home is crucial because faults can be extremely dangerous when undetected and unresolved. There are many common problems that can be found in residential properties and it’s important to look out for them to ensure that you are living in a safe environment.

Home Electrical Inspection is important to our house for the safety of homeowners.

Do An Electrical Inspection Before You Buy A Home

Before you buy a home, you should inspect or have a professional inspect the electrical installation and its components. You could have the county or city inspector take a look, or you could find an electrical contractor to help you with the task. Make sure that the home is up to date and safety standards as required by the National Electrical Code. You should have an electrical service that is large enough to supply the home and have room for future expansion. The wiring should be grounded and in good working order. The switches and outlets should be inspected to ensure they are in good working order and of the right type. Here are some of the electrical components of the electrical system that should be inspected.

The receptacles, often called outlets, should be inspected to make sure that they have a ground, don’t have any cracks or physical defects, that they have the proper tension to hold in a cord that is plugged into them, and that they are the proper type for the area.

Specific areas to watch are bathrooms, kitchens, basements, garages, and outdoor outlets. Any of these areas could be wet or damp and are required to have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) installed. Kitchens require many special outlets and circuits to supply the vast number of kitchen appliances in them.

Three Reasons You Need a Home Electrical Inspection

When Purchasing a Century Home

A whole home electrical inspection is essential when purchasing a century home. It is certain that the original wiring cannot withstand demand of modern living. Also, you must seriously question the number, and quality, of attempts to improve on the original wiring.

When Purchasing a Resale Home

A whole home electrical inspection is an excellent place to start when purchasing a resale home.Even though a home may have been meticulously wired when first built, unqualified and un-inspected work is often performed after the initial inspection as people renovate, add equipment and build-on. The older the home, the greater the risk that not only is the home not up to today’s standards.

Before Starting a Major Renovation

If you are adding to your existing wiring, an inspection at the beginning will tell you if your existing system can support your plans, If not, upgrades can be addressed most cost effectively as part of the renovation process.

Electrical Inspection or Wiring Importance

Electrical wiring has a certain safe lifespan, just like everything else. Knob and tube wiring was state of the art in its day, but of course now, it’s outdated and lacks a ground wire. As you can see, what is good today doesn’t mean that you can trust the wiring for hundreds of years. Just like the electrical switches and outlets wear out and need to be replaced from time to time, the wiring takes a beating over the years. Call us for your home service and repair needs.