The steps to buying a home can sometimes seem daunting, but none is more important than a home inspection. Without professional assessment, you could purchase a house with hidden electrical hazards that put your investment and your family at risk. Check out what you need to know about getting your home inspected.
Why get an inspection
Electrical codes are continuously being updated to improve safety in the home and prevent defective electrical wiring. While a few bad wires may not seem like a big issue, they can actually be deadly. Between 2013 and 2015, more than 8 percent of residential fires were due to an electrical malfunction like faulty wiring, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
While it is important to protect the buyer from hidden electrical issues, an inspection also protects the seller. The inspection creates a checklist of problems in the home, which keeps the seller from post-sale requests to fix problems.
What to watch
There are several electrical problems you should keep an eye out for, including:
- Number of outlets: Older homes often have few outlets, which can lead to future problems. If you overload a small number of outlets with many plugs, it could stress the electrical system, potentially leading to blackouts, shocks or even fires.
- Exposed wires: If you see exposed wires, you will need to have an electrician come in and fix the problem immediately.
- Outdated wiring: A homeowner can't sell a home if the inspection turns up wiring that isn't up to code. If your desired house is older, make sure the wiring was updated recently to avoid this problem.
- Old circuit breaker: An outdated circuit breaker may not be able to handle the full load of a household. With new technology coming out each day, it is important to have an electrical system that can sustain your family's electronics.
If you understand a home's electrical system before purchasing it, you can save yourself the headache and expense later if something goes wrong. To schedule a home inspection and protect your current or future home, call David Gray Electrical Services at (904) 605-8190.