Among the most thrilling times in your life may be when you purchase a new home. The most soothing thought is that of coming home after a long day at work. In your own home, you can have the interior decor that best reflects your personality and change it as frequently as you choose.
You can be so excited to move into a new home that you forget to complete an electrical checklist. Electrocution that results in death for home residents or electronic device damage can be brought on by a malfunctioning power system. Power devices that are broken or malfunctioning can actually cause a fire that destroys the entire house. This article will discuss various electrical considerations when purchasing a home.
1. The Power Service Panel
- The power supply needs to be checked first. Knowing the age of the home you’re about to purchase will be helpful. A worn-out, rusted, and smoke-filled electrical service panel has to be replaced.
- The power system of the house is older if the panel contains a fuse box rather than a circuit breaker, thus it should be evaluated to see whether it needs to be updated. The electrical panel will also enable you to determine the stability and robustness of the electrical system.
- The average lifespan of an electrical panel is three decades, after which it must be replaced. The size and power of the electrical panel should also be noted.
2. Power Cabling
- Opposed to earlier homes that use copper wire, most modern homes have aluminum wiring, which is thought to be more resilient and less fire-hazardous. Copper and aluminum both offer unique performance and safety traits.
- They should never be used together for electrical wiring, though, because they conduct electricity differently. If the house you wish to purchase is older, has out-of-date wiring, or has a dubious wiring system, you should make sure the wiring is examined by a qualified electrician.
- Before purchasing a home, think about if the wiring system has to be replaced, as this will affect the overall cost of the home.
3. Outlets in Damp Sections
- It is dangerous to have both water and electricity close by. This is so that electrocution can occur, as water is an excellent electrical conductor. The home’s kitchen and toilet should have been equipped with Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters because they are wet areas (GFCI).
- Before it damages the home’s electrical items, GFCI detects an imbalanced electric current and shut the power. The electricity is also turned off by GFCIs when water and electrical appliances come into contact.
- Before purchasing a home, confirm that the GFCI is installed and functional. Furthermore, water should not be near light switches.
4. Internal Outlets
- Inspect the light switches and device cables before settling the purchase of the home. They need to be adjusted if they are slack or repaired. Make sure the power cables are not hidden by soot and that the outlets are clean.
- Power outlets should also be examined to make sure they are securely fastened to the wall. The wall shouldn’t have any cracks and should be strong enough to support plugs of the proper tension.
- A suitable earth wire system should be installed in the home as well for safety reasons, particularly against lightning and power surges. A qualified electrician should be called in to conduct an assessment if the electrical system is making switching or buzzing noises.
- A power systems repair might be costly for the homeowner. Older power systems are more susceptible to wear and tear and failure. You can rely on Better Electricians if you’re thinking about purchasing a new home and require a qualified electrician to do an electrical system examination. We are seasoned, capable, and trustworthy electricians that are constantly prepared to provide you with power services at a fair price.
- You may reach us here! Call 1300 023 883 for any assistance.