Are you looking to purchase a home and have concerns about the electrical system? It may be best to hire an electrician to do a proper inspection of the entire home since they'll have the experience and latest equipment to get the job done right. Here is what you can expect during a thorough electrical inspection.
Inspect All Outlets
A home inspector may go around a home and plug a device into each outlet to let you know if it is working and grounded properly. However, you want your electrician to actually open up the outlets and look at the wiring inside. This will ensure that you know the outlets are wired properly and there are no red flags hidden behind those face plates.
For example, there may be too many wires that are crammed behind a faceplate in order to get it to work. There may be a wire used to connect the outlet that is not the proper gauge, which cannot be determined by testing the outlet by plugging a device into it. There may even be issues wherein the outlet is not connected to a junction box and is instead screwed directly into framing material. This is not only against the electrical code but is also a big fire hazard.
Inspect the Electrical Panel with an Infrared Scanner
An electrician is also going to have access to an infrared electrical scanner, which can tell you many things about the electrical panel that you cannot see with your eyes. An infrared scanner can be pointed at the electrical panel to tell you where all the hot spots are. This can give you an early indication that some of the circuit breakers are too hot and run the risk of having a problem over time. The scanner gives the electrician information in only a few seconds, rather than needing to test every individual breaker. Once a hot circuit has been detected, that circuit can be traced back to discover what is causing the problem.
Inspect the Electric Meter
Even if everything in the home is working correctly, it may not mean much if the electrical meter is not working as intended. An electrician will also inspect the electric meter to ensure that it is reporting the proper amount of electricity that is being used. If they find some sort of red flag regarding the meter, you can contact the electric company about having the meter repaired or replaced so that you are accurately billed for your electricity usage.
When we purchased our first home, we realized that there was a problem with some of the electrical work. Some of the lights flickered when we turned them on, and others really seemed to have issues if they were left on long term. I thought the issues was the light bulbs themselves at first, so I replaced several of them. However, after making those changes, it seemed like things were still having trouble. I began going through and thinking carefully about how to identify and resolve the challenges, and it occurred to me that working with an electrician could be helpful. I turned to the professional for help, and it was a good thing I did. Read more about electricians on this blog.