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Should You Get An Electrical Inspection?
You know that when buying a home, a property inspection is vital. But what about an electrical inspection?
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, a separate and
comprehensive electrical inspection is necessary in many home purchases. The
Foundation is a nonprofit organization that promotes electrical safety.
They recommend that any home that is over 40 years old, has had major renovation
or major appliances added over 10 years ago or is changing owners receive an
electrical inspection.
Your standard home inspection will inspect the property for structural defects,
as well as plumbing, electrical and mechanical problems. You should always have
a property inspected before closing. It saves you from discovering costly surprises after your name is on the deed.
But keep in mind that the property inspection is a surface inspection. Light
switches will be flipped. Wiring in the attic will be looked at. But you should
have someone look a little bit further.
What does your electrical inspection mean? It means that someone has checked for
loose-fitting outlets, checked the fuse boxes and circuit breakers. Everything
electrical is tested and double-checked.
Why should you bother? Electricity is a powerful force that leads to another
powerful force -- fire. There are more than 165,000 electrical-related home
fires in any given year. On average, 900 people loose their lives to these fires each year.
Think about it, when was the last time you checked your electric system? Do you
check for frayed or overheated cords? Do you feel your outlets for heat? Do you
take care of overloaded circuits? Do you put too high of wattage light bulbs into your lights?
Even if you answered yes, the chances are slim that the seller would. For
example, in our recent purchase, a major wiring problem skipped both our and our
inspector's attention. If we had an electrical inspection, the problem would have been caught.
Just like a property inspection, join the
electrician on the tour of your property. Ask questions and have him explain what he is checking and why. The
information can help you in the maintenance of your home's electrical system.
For example, how many of us know why a breaker keeps flipping and what we should
do about it.
If you plan on making changes to the home, such as adding a hot tub or other
major appliance, talk about it with the inspector. He or she could offer helpful
advice and tips.
Keep in mind that electricity isn't something to play around with. You shouldn't
use 100 watt bulbs in a 40 watt fixture. Don't run extension cords heavily all over your home. Check your smoke detectors and replace their batteries
regularly. Have your home inspected and prevent any problems before they have a
chance to catch a spark
If you are looking for a professional electrician in Connecticut or Massachusetts please call us today at 860-749-2406 complete our online service request form.
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