Do Home Inspectors Check Electrical?

Do home inspectors check electrical? YES, a home inspector needs to check electrical.

By: Gareth Kelly – Expert Electrician, Owner of Kelly Electric, Co-owner of Dream Team Home Services

Electrical home inspections involve checking wires, sockets, outlets panels and more. Inspections regularly check and diagnose your homes for any issues regarding safety and performance. It is very important in home safety inspections, as they will help ensure the safe operation of electrical components in your home.

WHAT & WHY do Home Inspectors Check Electrical?

Electrical Fires

Electrical fires are the most common disaster that can befell any home, so it is crucial to have functioning detection equipment for your protection. Smoke detectors should alert you in the event of a house fire. However, they do require weekly testing and need to be cleaned once a year.

There are several causes of electrical fires, such as faulty outlets and appliances, light fixtures, extension cords, space heaters, and wiring issues. Unlike other household appliances, the signs that your electrical appliances may be failing can sometimes go unnoticed because they work behind the scenes. You cannot regularly see behind your wall to check on your outlets, or easily check on the wiring in-between floors. Unless the smoke has already begun to form, there is little you can do to stop it. An inspection by a certified professional can potentially detect this issue ahead of time and take the proper precautions.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI’s)

There are several products that need to be serviced and can only be inspected by certified professionals. Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCI’s) fall into that category, and should be tested monthly. GFCI’s protect an area from an electrical shock by interrupting a household circuit that could be dangerous. Many people do not take the monthly test seriously, as current GFCI’s are self- diagnostic and check their own electronic circuitry every few seconds. However, it is still required by manufacturers that they are tested by a human being monthly to check for safe operation of the device. Over time, both the electrical and mechanical movement of the GFCI device will degrade from the factory settings.

Surge Protectors

Another important aspect of a home safety inspection is examining your surge protectors. Surge protectors can fall victim to overloading, and foreign substances entering it. Checking these periodically and replacing them when necessary is a very wise decision, as they can save your electronic equipment from frying due to a potentially damaging jolt.

Outdated Appliances

Aside from safety, inspections can also examine and replace appliances that are outdated. As technology changes over time, certain appliances simply become outdated. Detecting out-of-date appliances is a part of the electrical inspection.

An electrical home safety inspection can also safely re-do your wiring in the event of installing an upgrade, or if you are having interior work done. Wires are tricky to manage, especially when they must fit within a certain area.

At Kelly Electric, we dedicate ourselves to making sure all our customers are taken care of by providing them with the best electrical service. If you have any questions regarding our services, or wish to schedule an appointment, contact us or give us a call at (484) 454-5494.

Gareth Kelly

About The Author:

Gareth Kelly, co-owner of Dream Team Home Services, has been serving Delaware Valley homeowners for over 20 years with expert electrician services. He came from Ireland to the United States in 2000 and started his own business in 2001, Kelly Electric Co Inc. His expertise in the field grew and strengthened his connection and local commitment to the community. In 2018, Gareth partnered with one of his best friends to create Dream Team Home Services, Inc. Dream Team is about being the ultimate home services team for any homeowner with a reputation for trusted service.