6 Ways To Ensure Your Home Passes An Electrical Inspection
There are many reasons why you might be looking at getting an electrical inspection done. In fact, electrical inspections are recommended if: you’re purchasing a house, you’re installing a new appliance, you recently renovated your home, or your house is older than 40 years. Here are 6 ways you can make sure your home passes an electrical inspection.
1. Don’t Overuse Extension Cords
Extension cords were designed for temporary use only, and you could fail an electrical inspection if you’re overusing them. This also likely mans you don’t have enough outlets, which is why you are using extension cords in the first place. The best thing you can do is install additional outlets in your home, and ditch the cords.
2. Test Your GFCI Outlets
You should make sure to test all GFCI outlets in your home to make sure they’re working prior to your electrical inspection. If you don’t have GFCI outlets installed, now is the time to do that as well. They help protect against electric shock and many areas require them nowadays.
3. Install Tamper-Resistant Outlets
Tamper-resistant outlets were first required in the 2008 addition of the National Electrical Code (NEC). In the event that a child tries to stick a foreign object into the outlet, for example, the tamper-resistant outlet will prevent electrical shock. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), every year, about 2,400 children suffer severe shock and burns when they stick foreign items into electrical sockets. Even if you don’t have children, tamper-resistant outlets are important to have in the home.
4. Fix Exposed Wiring
If you have exposed wiring, you need to have it fixed as soon as possible. Exposed wires can cause fires and electrical shocks, and they’re common with DIY jobs. DIY jobs when it comes to your electrical system can be dangerous. Have a professional insulate and anchor all wiring.
5. Correct Over-FF=used Circuits
If your circuits are over-fused, it means that the breaker can’t carry electricity safely because the amperage rating of the breaker exceeds the amperage rating of the wiring in the circuit. This can cause wires to overheat, which can lead to an electrical fire. Over-fused circuits is a serious problem that needs to be corrected.
6. Make Sure Your Alarms Are Working
All carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors should be working in your home. If they’re not, this could be a major safety hazard and can also cause you to fail your electrical inspection. You should test your alarms every month, and change the batteries every 6 months to ensure they’re working properly.
Contact Kanon Electric For All Your Electrical Needs In Milton, WA and Surrounding Areas
Kanon Electric serves Federal Way, Tacoma, Puyallup, Auburn, Sumner, and the surrounding areas. For all your home electrical needs, no matter how big or small, contact the pros at Kanon Electric today by calling 253-302-8199 or online here. We offer many different electrical services. For a full list, click here.