You’d be surprised by how many homes have electrical wires that aren’t up to code. Some of these wires are simply too old or made from outdated material. Others may be damaged or worn out—making them dangerous.
Of course, it’s difficult to tell whether wires are up to code just by looking at them. That’s where professional home inspections come into play.
Electrician Inspection: What You Need to Know
Before you can tell if you should schedule a home electric inspection, let’s review how they work.
A home electrical inspection is a thorough review of your home’s entire electrical system conducted by a professional.
A proper electrical inspection follows a procedure stipulated in the National Electrical Code (NEC).
Why Is The NEC Important?
The NEC is a set of electrical safety standards that the National Fire Protection Association constantly re-evaluates and updates with input from electrical professionals all over the country.
When electricians determine whether or not something is “up to code,” the NEC is what they’re talking about. The NEC establishes the minimum safety standard for all home electrical fixtures, systems, and devices. If something is “up to code,” that means it meets this minimum safety standard.
Residential Electrical Inspection Checklist
During the inspection, certified electricians will check the safety of all electrical devices in your home by following a checklist. This will include, among other household components, inspecting
- Circuits: Your electrician will check to see if you have the correct number of circuits to serve the demand of your home—this is especially important if you have added to its existing foundation.
- Wires: Your wires may be old, damaged, or installed incorrectly, which can create a dangerous situation if left unchecked.
- Outlets: Some outlets have poor connections or overheat when in use due to a circuit overload.
- Service Panels: Old or faulty breakers can cause your appliances to stop working, the lights to flicker, or the service panel to blow.
- Electric Meter: Meters can begin to wear and tear over the years, so it’s vital to ensure they’re functioning properly and that they don’t show signs of rust or water damage that could compromise their quality.
At the end of the inspection, you will have a comprehensive understanding of your home’s electrical safety.
IMPORTANT: If any electrical feature doesn’t “pass” inspection, that means it fails to meet the minimum safety standards established by the NEC.
Why Do Wires Typically Fail an Electrical Inspection?
DID YOU KNOW…that wires are among the most common electrical features to “fail” inspection? That’s because they’re hard for non-professionals to check on.
Here are a few common reasons why wires may fail:
Age
Wires may wear down over time, especially if you installed them a long time ago. Older wires are also more likely to be made of substandard material or installed with substandard methodologies like knob-and-tube wiring.
The older your home, the more likely it is that your electrical wiring is old, too. If you can’t remember the last time you had your older home’s wires inspected, then it’s probably time to do so.
Material
Many homes built in the 60s and 70s have aluminum wiring. Aluminum is considered poor wiring for several reasons. It rusts, breaks, and overheats easier, and it doesn’t integrate well with newer installations.
Installation
If your wires were installed by non-professionals, or they were installed many years ago, there’s a good chance they were installed incorrectly. Professional inspectors can evaluate whether your original wiring works correctly and recommend how to fix it if it doesn’t.
Damage
Wires sustain damage for all kinds of reasons. If wires come unseated from their connection points or fray, they could spark and start fires. Inspectors can identify wire damage even in its early stages.
At EarlyBird Electric, we may even be able to fix it before it becomes a serious problem!
Grounding
The electrical code doesn’t require grounding existing circuits, but it does require all new installations to include grounding. If you don’t have grounded circuits, your inspector can tell you and recommend the best way to stay safe.
Check Your Wiring Before Your Home Electrical Inspection
It can be tough to identify all the ways your home’s wiring could fail to meet code (that’s what inspections are for!), but there are a couple of things to watch for.
If you want to know how up-to-date and safe your electrical system is, look for:
Outlet discoloration or damage
Often, your outlets will be the first indication that something’s wrong with the wires behind them. If your outlets look discolored, damaged, or if they smell like burning, it’s likely because of a wiring problem. When circuit wires fray or overheat, they often melt the nearest outlet. Obviously, if your outlets ever spark or catch fire, then something’s seriously wrong.
Wire material
If you can find any exposed wiring, try to figure out what it’s made of. Manufacturers mark aluminum wiring with “Al” at various places around its casing.
You should take this opportunity to check for any fraying or damage to the casing. If wires look rusted, frayed, chewed, or otherwise damaged, they probably won’t pass inspection.
Frequently tripped circuit breakers
Your circuit breakers trip to protect your wires and fixtures from excess voltage. The more frequently they trip, the more likely it is that there’s a problem in your home’s circuitry.
If your wires can’t handle the voltage demanded of them, your circuits will break quite frequently. Damage or faulty connections will also trip circuit breakers.
Two-pronged outlets
If your electrical outlets have two prongs instead of three, then they aren’t grounded. Although the electrical code doesn’t strictly require grounding, we highly recommend it.
Often, a lack of grounding is also an indication that your wires are old, which could exacerbate all kinds of problems. You should consider upgrading any two-pronged outlets in your home and getting an inspection for good measure.
Schedule a Home Electric Inspection
If you don’t think your electrical wires are up to code, don’t panic: that’s why we’re here to help! A professional electrician can tell you what’s wrong with your home’s electricity and educate you on how to fix it.
“Failing” an inspection isn’t a problem; it’s how you deal with a problem that matters most.
If you need to update your wiring, contact Early Bird today. Our experts will conduct a thorough home electrical inspection of your home’s electricity. We can tell you exactly what’s wrong with your wires and how we’ll fix it.
You’ll never have to worry about unknown electrical problems again.
