When you’re looking at buying a home, you want to make sure you are getting one that is going to be free from any large problems. If there are problems, you want them uncovered so that you can get concessions for them. When you have a home inspector, who isn’t familiar with electrical work, inspecting your future home, there may be some issues that they end up missing. Howell Electric is here to talk about some of the most common electrical red flags that are commonly missed by home inspectors.
Watch for These Red Flags Often Missed by Home Inspectors
As great as home inspectors are at finding issues in a property that you are considering buying, they are good at generally looking at a property for general issues. They aren’t usually well versed in any particular part of the house. The electrical system is one of those areas where they could make a mistake and miss red flags.
– False Three-Prong Outlets: If you are buying an older home, there is a chance that the three-prong outlets that are in the house aren’t actually equipped with the grounding wire they need. They may have two-prong outlets that have covers that were switched out for a three-prong cover without adding that important grounding wire. This is a fire hazard.
– Double-Tapped Breaker: You shouldn’t have any breakers that have two wires that are crammed into the same place that was built for a single conductor. When there are two wires, that means that there isn’t a solid connection for either of them. This can be dangerous and lead to serious problems.
– Lack of GFCI Outlets: If there aren’t any GFCI outlets in bathrooms, kitchens and other places where water is present, that is a huge problem as well. If the house is old enough and hasn’t ever been renovated, they don’t technically have to bring the electrical system up to code. This is a huge problem when you’re trying to sell the house though. This is a safety issue that could get in the way of any financing that you need to purchase the house.
– Knob & Tube Wiring: There is a lot of wiring that is behind walls, where no one is able to see. There could be knob and tube wiring back there which is a huge safety concern. If it is present, there are usually modifications made over the years that make it even less safe. Knob and tube wiring is a big concern when buying an old house.
Residential Electricians & Commercial Electrical Contractors in Yucaipa, Rancho Cucamonga, Colton, Rialto, Bloomington, Lytle Creek & Fontana, CA | San Bernardino County California
If you are buying a home, you want to know that the house is safe from an electrical standpoint. You can turn to Howell Electric to inspect the electrical system to ensure your home is a safe one to buy. If there are problems, we wil provide you with the repairs to bring it up to code. Call us today!
