According to the U.S. Fire Administration, fire departments across the nation respond to a total of 25,900 home fires every year caused by electrical issues. The total cost of property loss because of electrical problems is roughly $1.2 billion. Consider this: electrical issues, including interior house wiring, other types of wiring, old wiring to outlets cause 39% of the total number of fires to which fire departments respond.
We tend to take the electrical system in our homes for granted. As long as we have power and all of our appliances and personal devices are working correctly, the technical side of your electricity is easy to ignore. However, the more you know, the easier it will be for you to spot a problem before disaster strikes. Use this information as a guide to help you recognize signs that your home needs an electrical inspection.
Reasons to Have Your Home’s Wiring Checked
- If the circuits trip or blow fuses frequently in your home, then your electrical panel or circuits might be overloaded.
- Indications that you have a loose connection, or an overloaded circuit include frequent flickering and dimming of lights.
- If any of the electrical cords or plugs feel hot or discolored, your home’s wiring probably isn’t capable of supporting that particular device.
- When your light bulbs burn out often, that means the fixture isn’t able to support the bulb’s wattage or is in need of replacement.
- If you hear strange sounds, such as a buzzing or sizzling sound, something in your home’s internal wiring is amiss.
- If you notice a burning smell, you should turn off your electricity and call a licensed electrician immediately. That smell is an early warning sign of a possible electrical fire.
- If you have loose outlets, or outlets that are not grounded (wired to support three-prong plugs), there’s a substantial likelihood that the internal wiring in your house needs to be inspected and repaired accordingly.
- If your house was built 40 or more years ago, you should have an electrical inspection. This is to make sure that the home meets the current building code requirements that apply to the residential property wiring.
- If you rely on extension cords to power appliances, you should consider having an electrical inspection. Extension cords put a tremendous burden on a single outlet. They are designed to be for temporary use only.
- If you’re replacing older appliances with more powerful ones as part of a renovation, you should consider having an electrical inspection to ensure that the existing wiring in your home won’t put excessive strain on your home’s electrical system.
An electrical inspection is an excellent way to ensure that your home’s internal wiring can support all of the demands of your home. If you observe any of the warning signs listed above, contact BriteBox Electrical Services to schedule an appointment to have a licensed electrician come to your Atlanta area home to conduct an electrical safety inspection.
