Are you musing over buying a new house? Here’s a word of advice. You need to check the state of wiring and electrical appliances by a certified electrician before purchase. Approximately only 37% of home buyers ever conduct an electricals check before purchase, according to a study by Electrical Safety First.
Although it is mandatory to do an electricals inspection for safety purposes before purchasing a home, most people are frankly unaware of it. Electrical flaws are the most significant cause of household fires in the world.
Checking for any faulty wiring or electrical conditions in the building is a part of the mandatory electrical inspection before purchasing a home. These defects may cause unwanted surges in electrical usage or even a fire if left unchecked.
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You need to inspect since the cost of rectification can be huge and finding it before buying a home can help you negotiate a fairer price. In this article, we will go through the five most critical electrical checks you need to conduct before buying a home.
Table of Contents
5 Things To Check About The Wiring And Electrical Appliances Before Buying A Home
1. Copper And Aluminium Wiring
You may have heard that copper is a superior conductor of electricity. However, when it comes to the purpose of wiring, other factors such as efficiency and being economical also need consideration.
Aluminum is better for transferring a high volume of current over vast distances. Besides the aluminum cables can be thinner and needs less insulation compared to copper wires. Although the conductivity of aluminum is less than that of copper, it is 30% lighter in weight, making it the ideal option for use in wiring applications.
Nonetheless, homes with aluminum wiring need inspection regularly. Aluminum tends to deform easily under heat since they are softer than copper. Hence, it can be dangerous to leave the wiring unchecked for long as it may even lead to a fire.
2. Checking The Outlet Receptacles
Regular inspection of the receptacles is necessary to check for cracks and physical defects due to wear and tear. Areas in the home that are commonly wet like the kitchen and bathroom are prone to develop damage to the outlets due to exposure to moisture.
The checking of tightness of the receptacles is also necessary for preventing arcing, which may develop in case of loose connections. The use of a power strip is commonplace when there is a lesser number of connections than the requirement.
Power strips with integrated surge suppressors are preferable as they protect the connected appliances from a power surge by using circuit breakers. The 20 Amp power strip should be enough for most of your household power distribution needs.
3. Checking Older Generation Electrical Appliances
Electrical appliances that you may inherit along with the house also need to be thoroughly vetted. The older devices tend to be more power-consuming, and they may also have undergone degeneration due to prolonged usage.
Such appliances should undergo checking and repair or replacement with modern pieces of equipment that are energy efficient. Exchange offers are obtainable for your old electrical appliances, and you can get an efficient machine in return at a lower cost.
Sticking of star labeling on appliances is common nowadays for informing the consumer about the energy-saving ratings of the machine. Although the initial cost may be on the higher side, the usage costs will be much lower, contributing to lower gross costs upon using over a long duration.
4. Lifetime Of Electrical Wiring
Like all other things, electrical wiring is also safe for use for a definite time. Once a state of the art technology, knob, and tube wiring are now obsolete. Replacement of similar pieces of outdated wiring, switches, and outlets certifies for better safety.
The control panel is also one of the electrical systems that need checking before buying a home. Similar to any other industry, the electrical industry also undergoes technological progress. The result is that you need to revamp your electricals after a certain period of usage even if they are not faulty at the moment.
5. Potential For Future Expansion
The electrical system should be capable of supporting any future expansion on the building at least for the foreseeable future. Thorough checking of the earthing for leakages and making rectifications is necessary before making the purchase.
Ensure that the home you buy adheres to the national electrical safety standards. The standards are guidelines for safeguarding your family from any electrical safety hazards. You also need to check if sufficient lighting is in supply to narrow spaces such as the staircase, basement, attic, or garage.
Modern homes use the architecture to let the natural light to enter the home, minimizing the need for artificial lighting. Lack of sufficient lighting in such areas in the absence of natural lighting can be hazardous.
Ensuring that the current capacity of replacement wiring is compatible with that of the existing installation is also paramount to ensure safety. If the current capacity of any part of your home wiring is below the current usage of your appliances, you may be at risk of disaster.
Confirm that you only utilize a premium quality cable as these have higher endurance and overall quality.
Conclusion
The mandatory building inspection before buying a new home might not check the electrical systems. If so, you need to hire a professional electrician to check the wiring and electrical appliances for whatever faults. Safety should be your first priority, you must check everything before making any decision to protect your family.
Any home expansions or DIY work that tinkers with the electricals can be a cause for electrical failure due to overloading. Natural disasters such as flooding, earthquakes, or storms also may cause imperceptible damage to the wiring in a house.
If you are planning to buy a home in an area that regularly experiences natural disasters, an electrical inspection is decidedly vital to secure your home and family. Investing in safety switches are an excellent way to prevent potential disasters before they happen.