Is Your Home Electrical System Safe: Book an Inspection

Table of Contents

• Why Electrical Safety Inspections Matter
• Common Electrical Hazards Found in Homes
• Signs Your Home May Need an Electrical Safety Inspection
• What’s Included in a Professional Electrical Safety Inspection
• Why Older Homes Are at Higher Risk
• How Electrical Safety Inspections Help Prevent Fires
• How Often Homeowners Should Schedule an Inspection
• Book an Electrical Safety Inspection with Santella Electric!

Why Electrical Safety Inspections Matter

Electricity has become a constant in most of our daily lives as our homes become increasingly filled with the latest technology. This constant use often lulls us into forgetting just how important, yet dangerous this power can be if not properly constrained. For these reasons, having regular electrical safety inspections are as important as ever, especially in older homes. Below, we’ll look at some of the common electrical hazards we find, what a safety inspection will entail, and why every homeowner should be getting their inspections routinely.

Common Electrical Hazards Found in Homes

Most homes that experience electrical hazards follow a similar playbook. Here are some of the most common electrical hazards we find in homes:

Outdated wiring and panels

Outdated panels and wires are a prime example of a common electrical hazard. Older electrical systems can sometimes fail to meet current safety standards. In other instances, damages over time have created circumstances where the panel is no longer safe. Having routine inspections is the best way to ensure any panels, breakers, and wirings stay up to date.

Overloaded circuits and improper modifications

Improper electrical modifications can also be a huge risk for homes. This can include installations outside the standards of safety or overloading existing circuits with too much voltage. Once again, regular inspections help ensure your electrical systems and usage fall within safety regulations.

Hidden fire and shock risks

Throughout homes, other more hidden fire and shock risks can exist as well. These issues can sometimes be found in basement/crawlspaces, attics, with old appliances, or around furnaces and A/C wiring. Maintaining your entire home, with proper precautions especially around keeping wild animals out, is best practice for this alongside routine inspections by a professional.

Signs Your Home May Need an Electrical Safety Inspection

While inspections should be regular, there are signs that indicate you may need one sooner than later. For one, older homes with older systems inherently create more risk and should be accounted for. However, in any home, if you experience things like buzzing noises around outlets, heat around outlets/switches, constant circuit breaker tripping, lack of proper outlet output, or any number of similar issues, you should schedule an inspection as soon as possible.

What’s Included in a Professional Electrical Safety Inspection

When you bring in a professional for a safety inspection, rest assured they follow an outlined checklist that touches all areas of priority in your home. Through a comprehensive, standardized approach by a professional, you can rest easy with proper maintenance until your next inspection. Here is how their standardized approach breaks down:

Panel and breaker inspection

A panel inspection is a key part of any professional safety check. The panel’s age, ampere rating, and manufacturer are all important. The physical condition of your panel – with checks for proper breaker size, loose connections, corrosion or other physical damages – is a large portion of this. Any secondary electrical panels will similarly be inspected.

Wiring, outlets, and grounding checks

Wiring throughout the home, alongside outlets, will get a check as well. In particular, crawlspaces, basements, and attics are inspected for proper wiring and any other potential safety hazards. Meanwhile, testing outlets throughout the house can see if electricity is being handled properly. 

Code compliance and safety concerns

A professional inspection will also be knowledgeable and carried out with code compliance in mind. This can take the form of major looks at the furnace & A/C connections, looking for proper smoke detector placement in the case a fire does start, and any indication of damages or potential future breaches of the system that could put your home at risk.

Why Older Homes Are at Higher Risk

Older homes tend to be of higher risk for electrical issues compared to newer ones. This usually results from age itself, whether that’s old electrical panels/breakers, old wiring, or general conditions that are subpar compared to modern safety protocols. Old homes can also be more at risk for animal damages, which can create further issues with wires and other electrical components. Any home, but especially older homes, should routinely have those vital professional safety inspections.

How Electrical Safety Inspections Help Prevent Fires

The key reason to stay on top of your electrical safety inspections is to help prevent devastating house fires. By proactively looking at areas of high risk that have created fires in other homes in the past, a professional can help protect your family and belongings from that same fate. Having these inspections routinely is the best way to maintain your house’s safety.

How Often Homeowners Should Schedule an Inspection

Most homes should be inspected every 2 to 5 years by a professional. Older homes fall on the shorter end of the spectrum and can even benefit from inspections annually. When in doubt, or experiencing any electrical abnormalities, bringing in a knowledgeable professional for an inspection is always best practice.

Book an Electrical Safety Inspection with Santella Electric!

If you’re in the Fairfield County area and are in need of an electrical safety inspection, look no further than Santella Electric. Equipped with a professional staff that has extensive knowledge surrounding safety and code compliance, we can ensure your house is safe and up to date with its electrical needs. Especially with great importance behind using electricity daily and the potential consequences for unsafe usage, having routine inspections has never been as important. Call or go online to Santella Electric today to get your home scheduled and your peace of mind returned.