A certified electrical inspection may be the most important cautionary action that you could possibly take before purchasing a dwelling. For the sake of safety, loss prevention, lender`s approval, and insurance rates, an inspection by an electrical contractor or home inspector is as much or more valuable than any other sort of inspection that you will have done.
If you need to finance the dwelling, the loan company will probably demand that an inspection be completed by either a contractor of an electricity company or a qualified electrician. Before obtaining an insurance policy on the dwelling, the insurance company will also probably either demand its own inspection or a copy of the one done for the loan company.
For these reasons, plus your own wisdom and peace of mind, an inspection is not only needed, but absolutely necessary.
The electrical contractor or home inspector will, upon arrival, look at your breaker box for the proper capacity and condition. The proper size breakers, not the older type fuses, must be properly installed, tight, and in good repair. Old, frayed, or brittle wires going into the box must be noted, and their replacement must be mentioned. Damage to the wiring around the box and other areas can be caused by age, exposure, or rodents or other pests. Sometimes, rodents either chew the insulation from the wires, leaving bare wiring open, or create their nests close to exposed areas of wiring, causing a critical fire hazard in both instances. The service entrance at the weatherhead should also be looked at and deemed to be in good shape. Any exposed wiring in the attic, basement, or crawlspace should be examined, also, for damage as well as any junction boxes and other connections.
All electrical outlets, inside and out, must be looked at for condition and functionality. Local building codes must be obeyed, so each electrical component must be closely looked at in that respect, also. An example of a local building code requirement is the installation of ground fault circuit interruptor type outlets being installed within six feet of any water source, such as in bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms. All other electrical appliances drawing power must be place on circuits large enough to handle amperage draw from those particular appliances, as well as any other appliances that may be located on the same circuits. Appliances that make heat, such as lighting fixtures must have plenty of clearance from potentially flammable material.
A finance contract is not the only reason to perform a thorough electrical inspection. Fire code compliance, insurance policy renewals or changes, as well as your own peace of mind should tell when and how an electrical inspection should happen. Seasonal inspections, such as inspection of heating systems and air handling units should also be taken occasionally. You may feel sure enough in your own ability to do these types of small inspections, but if not, a certified professional can only increase your peace of mind.
Fires, electrical shorts, and other electrical events are always serious and can be dangerous, so if there are any doubts as to who should undertake the inspection or even whether one should be performed at all, it is much better to make your decision on the side of caution.
