Eden Prairie Inspection Tech: 952-583-9012
You know that when buying a home, a property inspection is vital. But what about an electrical inspection?
According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, a separate and comprehensive electrical inspection is necessary in many home purchases. The Foundation is a nonprofit organization that promotes electrical safety.
They recommend that any home that is over 40 years old, has had major renovation or major appliances added over 10 years ago or is changing owners receive an electrical inspection.
But keep in mind that the property inspection is a surface inspection. Light switches will be flipped. Wiring in the attic will be looked at. But you should have someone look a little bit further.
What does your electrical inspection mean? It means that someone has checked for loose-fitting outlets, checked the fuse boxes and circuit breakers. Everything electrical is tested and double-checked.
Why should you bother? Electricity is a powerful force that leads to another powerful force — fire. There are more than 165,000 electrical-related home fires in any given year. On average, 900 people loose their lives to these fires each year.
Think about it, when was the last time you checked your electric system. Do you check for frayed or overheated cords? Do you feel your outlets for heat? Do you take care of overloaded circuits? Do you put too high of wattage light bulbs into your lights?
Whether or not you are buying, you might want to go ahead and have your home inspected. If you plan on making changes to the home, such as adding a hot tub or other major appliance, talk about it with the inspector. He or she could offer helpful advice and tips.
Keep in mind that electricity isn’t something to play around with. You shouldn’t use 100 watt bulbs in a 40 watt fixture. Don’t run extension cords heavily all over your home. Check your smoke detectors and replace their batteries regularly. Have your home inspected and prevent any problems before they have a chance to catch a spark.
Eden Prairie Inspection Tech: 952-583-9012