Even though your home’s electrical system is invisible, it’s actually one of the most important components of your entire house. When your electrical system isn’t working properly, there can be interruptions in your power supply that are inconvenient or even dangerous if a fire were to break out.
It’s a good idea to have your system inspected every five years or so, or to have a new home you’re interested in purchasing inspected before signing on the dotted line. But what does an electrician really do during a safety inspection and how does it help?
Here’s what to know and how N.E.T.R., Inc. can provide you with comprehensive electrical service when you need it most.
What Electricians Check During An Inspection
An electrical inspection is a comprehensive assessment of your home’s entire system, from the inner wiring to the fuse box, light switches, and outlets. During your home inspection, an electrician will usually:
Test the voltage of all circuits
Your inspection usually starts with testing the voltage of all the circuits running throughout your home. To do this, an electrician will use a device called a digital multimeter that measures not only the voltage, but also current and resistance.
Voltage that’s too high puts you at risk of fires or damage to your electrical components. If your voltage is too low, this results in an increase in amperage, which could overload or melt the circuit. And if appliances like your air conditioner, fridge, or electronics are plugged into a circuit that doesn’t have the right voltage, they could become prematurely damaged.
Check the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Next, the electrician will check to make sure your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms are operating appropriately. If you don’t have enough smoke alarms for your home layout or the size of your space, they’ll inform you of what’s needed for compliance with the latest safety regulations. They may also be able to help you change the batteries or replace non-working units.
Look for any electrocution, shock, or fire hazards
It’s also important that the electrician check your home for electrical hazards that could cause shock, fire, or electrocution. This can include things like:
- Appliances or electronics plugged into outlets near open water sources
- Power strips or outlets that are overloaded
- Light bulbs that are the incorrect wattage
- Wires that are frayed, damaged, or exposed
- Electronics charging near your bed
- Extension cords with too much power or insecure attachments to the wall or plug
- Appliances that are defective or broken that may be putting too much strain on your electrical system
Test your GFCI outlets
GFCI stands for ground fault circuit interrupter, which is essentially a type of circuit breaker inside the outlet. These receptacles are designed to monitor how much energy the outlet is using and disable the receptacle when there is too much power flowing through the unit. You’ll know if your home has these outlets if you see buttons on the outlet, usually between the two plugs, that can be pushed to reset it.
An electrician will check the performance of your outlets to ensure they still shut off when the power load exceeds the specified amount. If any outlets need to be replaced, they may be able to install new ones before they leave.
Check your breaker or fuse box
Your circuit breaker or fuse box is a critical component of your electrical system because like your GFCI outlets, it functions to interrupt the flow of electricity through your system if it senses there’s too much.
Because fuses melt and have to be replaced when they interrupt your power, an electrician will usually check these first. If you have a breaker box, they will check that each switch is working correctly and that it’s labeled appropriately so you know which switch controls which part of your house.
Call N.E.T.R., Inc. For All Your Home Electrical Needs
Whether you need an electrical inspection for a home you’re purchasing or you’ve been having trouble with fuses blowing in your breaker box, our team of experienced Boston electricians can help. We provide comprehensive residential electrical services at an affordable price, so you can relax knowing that we can take care of just about any need or electrical problem you have. Contact us today to learn more or to book a time for one of our electricians to come to your location and provide a quote for services by calling (781) 933-6387.
