The safety of your household should never be at risk. Electrical issues account for over 50,000 fires in an average year. If more homeowners realized that electrical problems are the third leading cause of home fires in the United States, overlooking an electrical safety inspection would be much less likely to occur. We will discuss why these inspections are important, what they involve, and how often they should take place.
What an Electrical Safety Inspection Entails
An electrical safety inspection includes an in-depth look at all the electrical systems and subsystems in a home. It’s performed by a licensed electrician like one of our professionals at Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing. An electrical safety inspection will begin at the electrical panel. We will take a look at this to determine if there are any issues, as electrical panel malfunctions create a safety risk.
In addition to this, the electrician performing the inspection will take a look at the wiring, outlets, appliances, switches, and electrical systems within your home. For example, inspections will take the soundness of circuit breakers into account. The electrician will make sure that everything is correctly labeled and that every circuit is functional.
Kitchens and bathrooms need to have a dedicated ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) that protects people from electrocution when water splashes into a socket. An inspector will ensure that this component is working correctly by using a tester. Once the inspector checks the electrical connections, they will jot down any points of concern.
Frequency of Electrical Safety Inspections
The regularity with which you should have an electrical safety inspection depends on the age of your home. For modern houses, it’s best to have an electrical safety inspection every three to five years. For homes that are more than 25 years old, the common practice is to have one of these inspections performed every two to three years.
This is because homes older are likely to have aging electrical connections and outdated components. For example, in older homes, you’ll find fuse boxes rather than circuit breakers. These also have aluminum wiring, which is the predecessor of a modern home’s copper wire. Each of these presents a safety hazard.
Signs That You Need a Safety Inspection
If you are noticing unusual things happening with your electricity, then don’t wait for your inspection time to come around again before you ask an electrician about it. There are signs that something is potentially wrong with your electric system, and it’s best not to ignore these if you see them. Give us a call at Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing to schedule service if you experience any of the following issues:
- Flickering lights
- An old electric panel
- Light fixtures that create a buzzing sound
- Appliances that are hot to the touch
- A burning smell coming from appliances
- Finding burn marks near outlets
Benefits of Electrical Safety Inspections
Ensure that your home receives timely safety inspections. Having regularly scheduled inspections is not something that every homeowner considers, but if you want to ensure your safety, it is essential. Let’s explore some of the benefits that safety inspections offer when it comes to electricity in your home.
Preventing Fires
Some of the leading causes of fires in the country have an electrical start. It could be an outdated panel, faulty wiring, or overloaded circuits that start a fire. However, having an inspection done can help identify these issues and reduce the risk of a fire starting. Once a fire begins, the possibility of more damage to your home increases. Rather than jeopardize your home, contact an electrician to spot any safety hazards that could lead to trouble.
Reducing Electrical Shock Risk
Frayed cords and faulty wires are not safe to touch because of the electric current running through them. Inspections reduce the risk of injury because an electrician can find issues in your home that could lead to shocking someone in your home.
Avoiding Repair Damage
When you have one of our professionals inspect your living space, you can be sure that we will identify issues before they cause damage to your property. Minor problems can often lead to larger issues, so addressing them early can help you save money.
Lowering Energy Costs
When the elements cause exposure to electrical wires, they experience additional wear and tear. This wear on the wires wastes electricity that should go to your appliances and devices. If the energy is not directed to the proper place and gets lost along the way, it makes the electrical system less efficient than it should be. When we conduct an electrical safety inspection, our team can identify hazards like this and recommend a solution.
Complying With the Local Electric Code
Electric codes reflect the most up-to-date safety standards. If your home complies with local and national regulations, you should not have to worry about getting repairs. Staying up to code also prevents you from acquiring fines for having an outdated electrical system in your home.
Investing in Surge Protectors
In Canton, we sometimes experience thunderstorms several times a week during the spring and summer months. When there’s this much lightning, there’s always a chance that a nearby lightning strike will affect your electronics. This is because direct strikes cause power surges, and without a surge protector, your home and its occupants may be in danger.
Surge protectors are devices that moderate the amount of power that makes it to your devices and appliances. Effectively, when a large burst of electricity enters your home, a surge protector will use a metal oxide varistor (MOV) to absorb the excess voltage and send it to the ground.
This large surge won’t just come from Mother Nature. Power surges can also occur when too many large appliances are on a single circuit. Most homes use about 120 volts when powering lighting and appliances. When voltage spikes hit the “clamping voltage” level, which is around 330 volts, the surge protector will send excess electricity to the ground.
Surge protectors come in two distinct varieties:
- Whole-home surge protectors
- Plug-in surge protectors
With whole-home protectors, everything on the electrical panel has protection. If power surges because of an overload or inclement weather, this will immediately ground the excess energy. Plug-in units have a design that is similar to that of a power strip, but these devices utilize a MOV to handle excess power. It’s best to use these on lower-voltage devices. Larger appliances like refrigerators, microwaves, and freezers have a tendency to overload plug-in surge protectors.
Contact a Reliable Electrician Today
Now that you understand how important electrical safety inspections are for your household’s well-being, make sure to contact us at Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing. We are one of the top options for all of your electrical needs in Canton. Our family-owned business has been proudly serving this community since 2007. Your satisfaction is our priority, and we can help with any of your electrical needs, including upgrades to your electrical panel.
Contact our team at Beck Electric, Generators & Plumbing today to schedule an electrical safety inspection!
