Some homeowners make the mistake of assuming a home’s electrical system is okay when appliances or light switches work just fine and nothing flickers. You may be unaware of electrical problems developing behind walls and underneath your floorboards.
It’s estimated that 63% of home fires involve wiring and related equipment. The condition of a home’s electrical wiring, therefore, should never be overlooked. Unseen hazards need not cause panic, however. Simply hire a licensed electrician to assess the following electrical aspects of your home.
Coding Requirements
Believe it or not, some homes are not built according to electrical code. This might involve failing to install light switches on each end in hallways and stairs with more than six steps, or putting too many receptacles on a single circuit.
Another problem is when contractors choose to use only regular circuit breakers. Although these are designed to protect wiring and equipment like furnaces, dryers, stoves, and air conditioners, they fail to provide full protection. Standard circuit breakers may not be enough to shield smaller appliances and wires that may be exposed to moisture.
Your electrician makes sure these circuit breakers are installed in the right areas, including the bathroom and kitchen. This way, you need not worry about electrical shocks and fire hazards when using smaller electrical devices around the house.
Compatible Components
Wires, circuit breakers, and outlets must match each other’s capacities. However, in some homes they don’t. This can create a circuit overload. For example, a wire gauge mismatched to a circuit’s amperage poses a fire hazard in itself. During a comprehensive inspection, these concealed hazards will not likely escape the eye of a licensed electrician, who can alert you to the problem and install the correct components.
Signs of Wire Damage
The thought of any hazard undetectable to the human eye can cause great worry, especially when it involves a home, a place you will be living and sleeping in for years to come. So, how do you decide whether to request an inspection for potential wire damage?
To know whether an inspection is necessary, one rule of thumb might help: The older your home is, the greater the chance of damaged or inferior wiring. Wires attrition with age, and they might fray or overheat over a period of years. Any licensed and skilled electrician will detect damaged wires and install a safe substitute.
There may be hidden problems with your home’s electrical wiring and components. They’ll be identified quickly and repaired safely, though, when you enlist the services of a Toronto residential electrician.
Sources:
Nearly 50,000 home fires involved electrical failures or malfunctions, nfpa.org
Five tips to get the most from your electrical inspection, angieslist.com
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