When Should I Consider Getting an Electrical Safety Inspection?

Electrical Safety Inspection

Many of the electrical items in your home, such as buying surge protectors and choosing light bulbs, are usually do-it-yourself projects. However, for more complicated electrical issues, there are likely to be safety hazards. For instance, some homes (especially older homes with mature electrical systems) have overloaded circuits, which can cause a fire if not corrected. Sometimes, homeowners will try to make up for a small number of outlets by using too many electrical cords or misusing electrical devices. This can lead to a house fire.

Why should I get an inspection?

While you hear a lot about fire prevention for homes, you don’t always hear how important electrical safety inspections are in this process. Before you get to “stop, drop, and roll,” you should first know what could cause a fire in the first place. It’s often related to your electrical items. Think of how many are in just your kitchen: the oven, refrigerator, microwave, dishwasher, garbage disposal, coffee maker, toaster, can opener—and probably a few more. An inspection will give you peace of mind and will pinpoint any safety issues that can then be fixed by a qualified electrician.

You should get an electrical inspection if you are:

  • Buying or selling a home
  • Starting or completing a home improvement project
  • Buying a rental property
  • Expecting a child

Also consider an inspection if your home hasn’t been inspected in the last five years, or if you’d like to maintain the safety of your home.

Who Should Perform an Electrical Safety Inspection?

Only a qualified, licensed electrician should be performed this kind of electrical check-up. They’ll have a list of action items to follow and can review with you when they’re done.

This is what an electrician will look at during an inspection:

  • Grounding system problems
  • Wattage for all light bulbs
  • HVAC system
  • Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
  • Outdoor electrical system
  • Outlets
  • Safety systems (Smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector)

Call Hufnagel Electric for residential and commercial electrical safety inspections. Let us help you keep your family protected with our licensed electrical work.