Should You Get A New Year’s Electrical Check Up?
The new year is a time for reevaluation, and while most people are focused on New Years resolutions, it’s also a great time to review the systems around your home. One of your home systems that’s essential to monitor and check up on is your electrical system. Electrical inspections and electrical troubleshooting are recommended at least once a year, and the turn of the new year is the perfect time to book in your electrical check up with a qualified, licensed electrician.
But how do you know if you need an electrical check up? Here we look at the signs that indicate a New Year electrical check up could be right for your home.
You’ve Been Noticing Electrical Problems
Has your holiday electrics usage been tripping your safety switch more than usual? Noticing flickering lights, defective wiring or warm light fittings or switches? If you are at the point that you are starting to notice electrical problems around the home, it is definitely time to call your local certified electrician to perform a thorough electrical inspection and health check. Even minor electrical problems can be a sign of something more serious deteriorating in electrical connections, appliances or fittings.
While it may be tempting to simply ignore the problem or apply a ‘quick fix’, having a qualified electrician conduct a proper inspection and look at the ‘bigger picture’ can be extremely useful. Often an issue with a main wire connection can cause problems across a whole section of a home, or a safety switch will constantly trip when an essential appliance is used, causing ongoing inconvenience. By thoroughly investigating and analyzing the full electrical system in your home and effectively troubleshooting to pinpoint the areas of concern, a qualified local electrician can provide a more safe and lasting solution to your electrical issues for a fresh start to the new year.
You’re Buying a New Home
Moving into a new home is an exciting time, but it can also be stressful. You have to search for the right home, explore the neighborhood, and consider whether the different aspects of a home are a fit for your needs. But although it’s not necessarily one of the home features homeowners are most excited about, inspecting the electrical system of your new home is essential before you sign on the dotted line. A home is a big financial commitment, and it’s important to know as much as you can about your new home, including the quality and status of the electrics.
Homes that have electrical work that was performed by an unlicensed contractor may have dangerous connections and they may even be ineligible for home insurance. Having an electrical contractor you know and trust perform an independent electrical inspection of a home before you buy allows you to get a clear idea of the right value for your new home. An electrical inspection of a new home should include testing of the outlets and switches, checking the electrical panel, testing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as inspection of the safety switches and other safety features of the home. Evidence should be provided by the seller that all electrical repairs and installations were performed by fully qualified and certified residential electrical contractors, in order to maintain the safety and value of the home.
You Have An Older Home
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission strongly recommends mandatory electrical inspections at the time of sale for older homes, due to the higher risk of outdated, faulty or damaged electrics. If you live in an older home and it’s been a while since your last electrical inspection, this new year may be the time to call your local electrician. While the electrics in older homes are not necessarily high risk, because of the chance that older electrical systems could include a number of additions and repairs and they may struggle to keep up with modern electrical demands, it’s important to have older electrical systems inspected.
Older homes may have degenerated wiring insulation, inadequate outlets, strained and overheated wires, fittings and switches and may even lack ground fault circuit interrupter outlets in areas where they are necessary, such as bathrooms, kitchens, and garages. If your home is over 25 years old, regular electrical inspections are important. Call your local residential electrical contractor to visit for an inspection of the electrics in your older home.
You Know Your Home Had Unlicensed Electrical Work
If you happen to know that unlicensed or DIY electrical work was performed on your home, it’s essential that you call a professional and licensed electrical contractor to inspect your home’s electrics. While it’s fine to replace a light or switch in your own home, taking any more DIY electrical work in your own hands can cause a number of serious issues. Firstly, there’s the risk to your safety or the safety of an unlicensed contractor who may not be aware of the proper precautions to take around electricity. Then there is the risk to your own home and electrical system. Faulty or poor quality work may be appealing for the cheap price upfront, but it may cost you more in faults and repairs in the long run.
Finally, DIY or unlicensed electrical work can count against your home if you plan to sell it in the future. Electrical inspections are usually required in the event of a house sale, and all repairs and installations need to be accounted for. If unlicensed work is found, this may need to be replaced with repairs by a licensed contractor before the home can be sold.
When you need electrical repairs, tests, or new installations, it’s essential to always choose a fully qualified and licensed electrican. Paying extra for high quality work is certainly worthwhile when it comes to electrics, so choose a well-reviewed and experienced electrical contractor for all your projects.
Whether your house is old or new, or you simply suspect it might need a little work, call your electrical contractor for a full electrical inspection to start the new year with safer, more efficient and better quality electrics in your home.
