How Often Should Electrical Safety Inspections Be Done?
Most homeowners aren’t having home electrical inspections done frequently enough. A startling number of them have never had one done. While we all rely on the wiring and circuitry buried within our walls for nearly every facet of life at home, the out-of-sight nature of electrical systems keeps them out of the minds of most homeowners.
Unfortunately, this mindset can increase risks for circuit overloads and dangerous electrical fires. Tragedy can be prevented at your home simply by scheduling regular home inspections with a local electrical company. Keeping up with routine electrical inspections can also save you from costly repairs to your electrical wiring or the need to replace damaged appliances down the road. Here’s a guide to how often homeowners should really be having home electrical inspections done.
If You Have a Newer Home
For homes built within the past 20 years, electrical inspections should be done every three to five years. While your wiring may be brand new and compliant with modern codes, there’s always a possibility for loose connections and other common problems to create hidden hazards that are simply ticking away beneath the concealment of your home’s walls. In addition, it’s always possible for contractors to make mistakes when wiring homes. As a result, even homeowners who have recently moved into new builds may also be unaware of installation issues that are slowly erupting as time goes on.
If You Have an Older Home
For homes built more than 20 years ago, it’s wise to have electrical systems inspected once every two to three years. If you have a very old or historic home, consider an annual electrical inspection to ensure that everything is safe. Homes built before 1979 often contain materials that are no longer used in modern construction because they pose serious safety and fire risks.
For instance, the cloth-insulating wiring that was common before 1969 actually poses a fire hazard as it degrades with age. In addition, any home containing wiring from a time before copper became the standard has additional fire risks. Of course, older wiring of any material is at risk for age-related arching that can lead to a fire behind your walls.
You’re Noticing Suspicious or Worrying Activity
Don’t put off an electrical inspection if you’re noting that something is “off” with your home’s electrical system. Regardless of your home’s age, wiring can simply go bad due to usage, poor initial installation, weather-related or environmental changes within your home, and more. Call for an inspection right away if you’ve noticed any of the following:
- Your lights are flickering or dimming whenever you run appliances.
- Your home’s outlets and switches are stained or discolored. These are scorch marks.
- Your walls or breaker boxes are “buzzing.”
- Your home’s outlets feel warm to the touch.
- You’ve felt shocks when plugging in devices.
- You’ve noticed faint burning smells in your home. This is a sign that overheated wires are melting insulation.
You’ve Changed or Upgraded Your Home
It’s time for an inspection if you’ve renovated your home recently. From installing new outlets to accommodate a home addition to hooking up new appliances in your renovated kitchen and laundry room, major projects alter your home’s electrical usage. It’s important for a post-renovation inspection to confirm that your current circuit can actually handle the new load. A telltale sign that you don’t have enough bandwidth for the upgrades is that you’re starting to notice shorting circuits or tripping breakers when you run appliances or keep lights on in several rooms at once.
You Added a New Major Appliance
Home electrical inspections are necessary after upgrading any major appliance in your home. This includes a new HVAC system, water heater, or sauna/spa system. It also extends to outdoor features like a heated swimming pool or hot tub.
If you have an older home, upgrading to a larger stove, dishwasher, or washer and dryer set that may pull more energy can also be a good reason to schedule an inspection. This especially applies if you’re adding a dishwasher or washing machine to an older home that did not already have the feature.
Call a Friendly Local Service Team for Home Electrical Inspections
Mister Sparky offers high-quality electrical services and inspections performed by experienced licensed technicians in Orlando. We’d be happy to schedule routine inspections to ensure that your home’s electrical wiring is operating as safely and efficiently as possible. Discover why we’re the leading electricians serving Orlando, FL. Don’t put up with any malarky, call Mister Sparky! Reach out today to schedule your appointment.
