Should You Get A Home Electrical Inspection?
It’s easy to take electricity for granted. You flip a switch, and you have light. You press a button, and your computer turns on.
You may not think about your electricity much at all until you have some kind of problem, such as an outlet that doesn’t work.
But there are a number of different reasons to consider an electrical inspection and many benefits to having an electrician perform one in your home.
Before Buying or Selling
Did you just move into a new house, or are you planning to sell your house? As a buyer, you’ll want the peace of mind that comes from knowing that everything is in order. Old homes might even need to be rewired entirely.
Getting the inspection done before you agree to the purchase can mean sharing some or all of the costs with the seller. As a seller, an inspection helps you avoid any unpleasant surprises related to your electrical system that can reduce your home’s value. You can then put your house on the market without worrying that your buyer will find something wrong with the wiring that could slow or halt the sale.
Safety Before or After Renovations
Before a renovation, an electrical inspection can tell you whether your existing system can handle the additional demands you’re putting on it and what you need to do if it can’t. After a renovation, an inspection can reassure you that your contractors worked to code.
When It’s Been a While
Even if you aren’t buying or selling, getting an electrical inspection every few years can be a good idea to make sure everything is in order and to head off any problems. Regular inspections can be particularly important for older homes. You can verify that your system is up to code and identify any issues that need to be addressed. Like a doctor’s checkup, an inspection can find problems before the symptoms appear and they become more serious and costly.
Safety and Peace of Mind
There’s a lot that can go wrong in a home’s electrical system. Breaker boxes can become outdated. Wiring can wear out. Even if your home and system are relatively new, rodents can chew through wires or you might get new appliances that put an additional strain on the system.
Electrical problems that go unaddressed can eventually cause a fire. An electrical inspection can find any issue that are brewing and put your mind at ease.
Sometimes, you may be having a specific problem that suggests your entire electrical system could use an inspection.
Circuits Tripping
Do the lights stop working when you plug in the coffee grinder? Are there issues using several electricity-powered items in your home at the same time? It’s likely that there is too much stress on one or more of your circuits. An inspection can help identify the problem and find a solution.
Problems With Outlets and Lights
Maybe you plugged something into an outlet and it didn’t work, or there were sparks. Perhaps your lights are flickering for no apparent reason. An electrical inspection can get to the bottom of these problems and ensure that your lights and outlets are functional and safe to use.
Burning or Other Odors
More alarming than tripping circuits, dead outlets or flickering lights, a burning smell suggests a problem with your electricity. However, there are other odors that can occur along with electrical issues that are less obvious. You might not associate fishy or metallic smells with electricity, but these can also be warning signs that something is wrong. An inspection can identify whether an electrical problem is the source of those odors and fix it.
Keep Power Bills Down
Sometimes, the sign that there’s a problem with the electricity is not as obvious as burning smells or flickering lights. Maybe your power bills have suddenly gone sky-high.
You might not make the connection that you need to have an electrical inspection, but it’s a good place to start.
Furthermore, even if you haven’t noticed any particular increase in what you’re paying, your system might be running less efficiently than it could. An inspection can identify issues you haven’t noticed and bring your bills down.
Fixing DIY Gone Wrong
Did you hang a ceiling fan and suddenly the light it’s attached to won’t turn on? Dealing with electrical systems can be tricky even if you have a lot of DIY experience in other areas. If something doesn’t seem right after you’ve been making any alterations related to your wiring, it’s usually a good indication you need to temporarily put away your DIY tool belt and get an expert in to do an inspection.
Are you having specific problems with your electricity, or are you just concerned about whether your system is working as well as it should? An inspection can pinpoint any problems that need to be addressed and reassure you that you and your household are safe. Don’t put up with any malarky, call Mister Sparky. Schedule your electrical inspection today and make sure that your wiring and all your electricity-powered devices are operating as safely and efficiently as possible.
