When you are about to buy a new home, electrical safety inspections can help you to make the right decision. Electricity has now become the most important tool because it is the energy source of every appliance at home, i.e. lights, heaters, entertainment, etc. In this article we discuss if you should get an electrical safety check when buying a house.
However, neglecting it can be more dangerous than useful. Remember the last time you checked your home or office electrical system to make sure everything is safe and according to the latest regulations and standards.
Have you ever had an electrical inspection? Is your house old or newly built? Or maybe you are buying a new house. It may be time to do a test to protect yourself, your family and your home.
Many electrical problems in the home are undetectable by the inexperienced eye. That is why it is so important that the electrical safety of your home is tested to ensure your safety and those living there.
During an inspection, the electrician will visually examine your home electrical system, assuring that all wiring, electrical system, and parts meet the appropriate legal standards.
Some components of the inspection will be solely a basic visual audit with recommendations about non-compliant components. Others will be an in-depth audit assuring continuity of the electrical system and protection switches are tested. As well as the polarity of the sockets.
Unluckily, as most of the electrical system is unavailable in wall cavities, a thorough visual inspection with testing of the electrical system is the extent that can be carried out without perforating the wall.
It is essential to ensure that the person who completes the electrical inspection at home or work are qualified to do so. By guaranteeing this, you can be rest assured that they know the issues they need to pay attention to, and can provide you with suggestions to help them troubleshoot when they find a problem.
In some cases, houses are ageing, wires have become hotter and hotter over the years, and loose and rusty connections have begun to appear.
However, the bigger problem turned out to be the trend of DIY house improvements in the past decade. Many people can make small changes, such as adding fans or replacing sockets, but some people chew more than they can.
In the inspection process, it is usually found that the wires are loose or the panel box is overloaded. Regular home inspections do not always see these conditions. These conditions may cause shortages and worsen the situation, but may also cause fires on the roads.
Your electrical system must be large enough to power your home and leave room for future expansion. The wiring must be grounded and in good working condition. Switches and sockets should be checked to make sure they are functioning properly and of the correct type. Below are some electrical components of the electrical system that need to be checked.
Sockets, commonly called outlets, are grounded, have no cracks and physical defects. And they have enough tension to hold the connected wires in the right place. The sockets will need to be examined to ensure they are correctly installed.
The specific areas that need attention are bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor shops, and garages. The kitchen needs many sockets and circuits to power a large number of kitchen appliances in it. It is important that you get them checked by a qualified electrician and ensure that they are safe.
People make many common electrical mistakes, and you may want to know if the old wiring is safe or if your home has aluminium wiring. You can check if the electrical wiring is incorrect and if the former owner overloaded the circuit.
You can run a maintenance panel checklist to check the electrical system further and in more depth. It will take time to perform all of these steps, but it is worth it. You will be able to identify any issues and get them resolved before your electric system breaks or overloads.
After all, you do not buy a sunken ship with holes or a faulty house. If you know the flaws in advance and accept the price to make up for the flaws, you can get your dream home at an affordable price.
Wires have a specific safe life, and the standards have changed over the years. Knob and tube wiring was the most advanced at the time, but they are now outdated. The wiring needs to be updated as needed, just as electrical switches and sockets wear out and require to be fixed from time to time.
The electrical system in the house will be large enough for the current size of the house and requires spare space in case of future expansion. Even if you don’t plan to add it right away, you should consider having extra space for any future additions.
At the same time, you can check the safety of lighting. Look at areas like stairways, hallways, and garages. These areas require sufficient lighting to ensure safety as you pass through each room. Also, check your outdoor lighting fixtures to see if they are enough to get in and out of your home.
Based on the dimension of the house, the age of the home, and the number of circuits in the home, a professional home inspection usually takes 1 to 3 hours. When buying a home, be sure to do a full electrical inspection.
When buying a new house, we understand that there are a lot of things to consider. The most important thing to carry out is an electrical check on the new property you want to purchase.
At IPF Electrical we have a team of qualified electricians that can carry out your electrical check for your new house. You can contact us for a free no obiligation quote.
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions or queries.