Would Your Fairfax Home Pass An Electrical Safety Inspection?
Category: Residential Electrical
To be honest, if you are not sure if your home would pass an electrical safety inspection, you are the perfect candidate for needing one. The only way you can honestly say that you are 100% sure your Fairfax home would pass this type of inspection, is if you have had one recently. And the general home inspection you had three years ago before buying your home does not count.
Keep Your Household Safe With an Electrical Safety Inspection
You and your family use electricity every day, without even giving it much thought. Of course, during peak times of use, that electricity bill tends to remind you how frequently you depend on it, especially during the hottest and coldest times of year.
Yet everything from cooking to drying your clothing are daily tasks that tend to get overlooked, as far as electrical consumption. If your electrical system is in the least bit compromised, you are at risk of having serious problems, like sparks, shocks, electrocution or a house fire.
When you are purchasing a home, if your current house is more than 40 years old, if you are renovating or if you want to add a new major appliance, these are all good reasons to set up your inspection. However, even if you just want peace of mind to know your family is safe, that’s as good a reason as any.
So what are some things that could stand in the way of passing an inspection?
Illegally spliced wires are no fun to find. This is usually the efforts of a previous homeowner making a DIY attempt to fix or install something. What’s scary is sometimes it’s by someone hired to do the job. Either way, it is a threat, as well as a violation.
Another common issue is discovering new lights installed using old wiring. Modern appliances and outdated wiring do not mix. It is too much strain on old electrical wiring, as well as poses the threat of shoddy connections leading to a fire.
Rooms in which water could come in contact with electrical components require GFCI outlets, Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters. Your kitchen, bathroom and similar spaces should be up-to-date and currently outfitted with these fixtures. If not, this needs to be rectified immediately.
Did you know that hall or staircase lights must also be installed close enough in order to prevent casting shadows. It makes sense, and most modern homes are designed with this in mind. However, older homes may not be up to speed, but should be.
An electric dryer needs its own 240-volt circuit and the washer and dryer are to be plugged into their own 20-amp receptacle. Few people think about the laundry room as a potential source of electrical trouble, but it most certainly is.
Ready to Get Started?
If you would like to protect your home from the threat of electrical problems, contact S & S Electric, LLC. We can provide you with a thorough electrical safety inspection, as well as a report that is both detailed and comprehensive. Don’t let the holidays or winter become a bigger threat for an electrical disaster, when we can work with you to prevent that from happening.
