Everything to Know About Electrical Safety Inspection

To avoid electricity-related accidents, it is always good to go with electrical safety inspection. Electrical inspection plays a crucial role in maintaining your electrical system. A proper safety inspection helps maintain the electrical safety of your loved ones and reduces the risk of electrical hazards. It is a thorough examination of your entire electrical system, ensuring all electrical wires, systems, and appliances meet all safety standards.

You need to keep in mind a few crucial things regarding your household and electricity usage. In order to protect your family and loved ones, it is best to understand your home’s electrical panel. You should know which fuse or switch on your panel controls the corresponding light or outlet. If you have any doubts about your home’s safety, it is good to ask a licensed professional to conduct required and relevant checks.

When should you do an electrical safety inspection?

Homeowners should schedule an electrical safety inspection for some specific times. You should conduct a safety inspection at the following times:

• If you are purchasing a new home, it is better to ensure that your new property is electrically safe.
• If your home is 40 years or more, then an electrical inspection is required.
• When adding an appliance to your home.
• When you have done a significant renovation to your home.

Advantages of an electrical safety inspection

An electrical inspection is vital for the safety of your home and anything else. Getting your home’s electrical system checked offers you peace of mind by following benefits:

• Ensures safe operation of your electrical appliances
• Highlights common electrical mistakes made by a previous electrician and DIY homeowners
• Identifies degraded electrical wiring and components
• Finds oversized fuses or breakers that cause a fire
• Helps to identify faulty wirings
• Improves energy efficiency and reduces costs
• Meets insurance risk assessment requirements
• Lets you know your new home is safe or not

Some tips for a proper electrical safety inspection 

Check wire for damage

You need to inspect your wiring as it may be the reason behind any short circuits or electrical shocks. Any damaged wiring can cause a short circuit or residential fires. It is a higher chance of wear and tears with older homes. So, it is highly risky to keep faulty wiring in your home. 

Test carbon monoxide and smoke detectors

It is an integral part of an electrical safety inspection. Checking smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are essential parameters to your home’s safety. Sometimes, a detector doesn’t work to wake you and alert you of danger. To prevent this, you should test your smoke detectors to determine if batteries need to be replaced. 

Inspect outlets and switches

As you rely on your outlets and switches all day, you should make sure that they are working at their best. If you feel they are hot on the touch or resulting in frequently blowing fuses, you need to call a professional electrician immediately. Maybe your outlets and switches will need replacement. 

Be safe from electrical lines

If you want to do some outdoor work, you need to be careful of the placement of electrical lines and wires across your landscape. When using a ladder for electrical works, one wrong move can either damage the wiring or result in electrocution. So be careful from electrical lines. 

Maintain a safe distance from fixtures

Keep your personal belongings and objects at a safe distance from electrical fixtures such as outlets and running appliances. It is especially risky if any of these objects are flammable. A minor spark from the outlet can lead flames to nearby objects.Also, keep your children at a safe distance to protect them from danger.

General checklist for a safety inspection

• Are all conductors of a circuit grouped? 
• Check for wet and damp areas for the suitability of boxes and fittings. 
• Inspect wiring and bending space in cabinets and boxes.
• Are all light fixtures working with diffusers?
• Are the cords in good condition without any deterioration, bends, or wear and tear?
• Do you use extension cords in place of permanent wiring?
• Are the wiring methods suitable for the current use?
• Check what grounding electrodes are available on the premises. 
• Make sure that the household is compliant with branch-circuit voltage limitations. 

Safety becomes essential when you are dealing with electricity. In this article, you will learn the ways for a proper safety inspection. Whether you are a business owner or homeowner, a safety inspection is essential and beneficial for everyone. If you have not done any electrical inspection of your property yet, go and hire a professional right now.