Benefits of an Electrical Inspection
Your house works perfectly. The electrical sockets are all functional, and there isn’t a single burnt-out lightbulb in the whole house. So what’s the use of getting an electrical inspection on your home? A few of the reasons are obvious (selling your home or buying a new one), but an inspection isn’t about fixing the problems you know about, it’s about finding the hidden faults and taking care of problems before they become major expenses.
Should I Get an Electrical Inspection?
- Are you selling your home?
- Are you purchasing a new home?
- Has it been more than 10 years since your last inspection?
- Have you had major home damage, repairs, renovations recently?
If you answered yes to any of the above, then it’s time for an electrical inspection. For home purchases and sales, getting both a code inspection and an electrical safety inspection is a good idea. The National Electric Code (NEC) is a regulated standard for electrical systems used in the United States. It gives very specific outlines for how the systems in your home are to be laid out and secured. From the types of wires and connections to be used, to how often electrical sockets need to be placed in each individual room.
These rules are updated regularly and minor code changes occur every year as new standards are developed. The older your home is, the more likely it is that it no longer conforms to the standards held by the newest code revisions. It’s not illegal to have your home slip out of code, but it can make it harder to sell when a potential buyer has the home inspected.
On the other hand, a general safety inspection, while it checks many things covered in an NEC inspection, is specifically looking for electrical dangers in the home. Aging wires, loose connections, damaged circuit breakers, and faulty electrical sockets are all “œfully functional” systems that can have disastrous results in the long run. Some of these problems are easy to spot. A breaker which trips too regularly or a n electrical socket that’s too loose to hold a plug are both sure signs of aging (or damage) that could need replacement, but connections and wiring require testing or a visual inspection.
To be clear, you may not need an electrical inspection, but it definitely can’t hurt to get a fully inspection of your home. It’s always better to have issues discovered before they become a problem. Finding small problems and fixing them is also a good way to increase the value of your home before a sale. You’ll want to make sure that you select the right electrical company to perform the inspection. Unqualified technicians won’t be up-to-date on code regulations and may overlook potentially dangerous situations. So always hire a professional to perform quality electrical inspections.
Hickerson Electrical is your source for all home electrical services. We’re ready and willing to deliver top-quality service to your home at a moment’s notice. So call today at (703) 594-3913.
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