Like all the other major equipment in your home, it is important to periodically have your electrical appliances inspected. Yet too many homeowners neglect electrical maintenance inspections. While modern electrical systems are built to function seamlessly and are largely safe and easy to operate, the rare electrical malfunction can still have devastating consequences for your entire property. Plus, if you live in an older home, there is a good chance some of your electrical equipment is outdated, and may even pose a safety risk to yourself and your family. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of electrical maintenance, and remember to call All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical for all your electrical service needs.
5 Ways Your Home Can Benefit From Electrical Maintenance & Inspections
- Finding Hazards: Electrical service is not something that can be left to an amateur. Using the DIY method is not going to work when it comes to locating and taking care of electrical hazards on your property. What’s more, not only will amateur electrical maintenance put you in an unsafe position, it may end up making your problems worse. Fortunately, our expert electricians are trained to provide inspections to locate a variety of safety risks, from wires that have been chewed on by rodents, to appliances that are old and outdated, to damage to your electrical panel. Our maintenance service is designed to prevent catastrophic events like electrical fires and electrocutions, and you can count on us to take care of any hazards we find.
- Inspecting Electrical Panel: As we mentioned above, damage to your electrical panel is a big deal, and can put your entire household at risk. Your electrical panel essentially serves as the heart and the brain of your electrical system, so when it experiences issues, those issues often reverberate throughout your entire property. Watch out for signs of an electrical panel issue including burning smells, buzzing sounds, flickering light, frequently tripped circuit breakers, visible dents/damage, and a warmth emanating from your panel when you touch it. Also, if you live in an older home, and have not called for panel maintenance and inspection recently, try to contact an electrician ASAP. Between the 1950s and 1980s, countless homes across the United States were built with Federal Pacific Electric and Zinsco brand panels, which were later linked to fires, shocks, and electrocutions. So if there is even a chance you could have one of these panels in your house, you will want to get it replaced immediately.
- Checking Safety Equipment: In some ways, the kind of electrical equipment that threatens your safety the most are not electrical appliances, but safety devices that do not work when you need them to. At All Pro Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical, our electricians can easily check your fire and carbon monoxide detectors to ensure everything is up to code. We can also inspect your surge protector for functionality and verify that your AFCI and GFCI outlets are working properly. We understand that being a homeowner is a full-time job in and of itself, and that with your busy schedule and all your other responsibilities, it can be easy to forget to do this on your own. That’s why it is often easier – and safer – just to have a professional inspect your safety equipment.
- Ensure Grounding Systems Work: Grounding systems, sometimes called “earthing” systems, are used to provide a backup pathway for electrical current. They are important for stopping unexpected flows of current that can damage your electronics or worse. By literally sending this current to the ground, this system helps prevent fires and other dangerous situations. We already mentioned GFCI, or Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets above, however, these outlets are only effective when there is a working grounding system in place. It is important to keep in mind that the specifics of your grounding system effect the safety and electromagnetic capability of your other equipment. So once again, it is essential that you hire a professional to maintain and inspect your grounding system. At All Pro, our skilled electricians will be able to efficiently determine whether your grounding system is fully functional or in need of an update. And speaking of updates…
- Provide Necessary Upgrades: The most important part of electrical maintenance and inspections is preventing potential problems with your equipment. However, in addition to safety concerns, we may also suggest upgrades to improve the overall functionality of your electrical system and larger home. For instance, you may want to improve your lighting scheme, either putting in energy-efficient LED lights or installing a security lighting system. If you have a fuse box rather than a circuit breaker panel, you may want to hire us for a change-over, as breakers tend to be much more convenient and are generally safer than fuses. Or perhaps you simply want to install new fixtures that better match the aesthetic design of your house. Ultimately, no matter what you are looking for, from simple switch replacement to whole-home rewiring, electrical maintenance can help determine what upgrades will make life safer and easier for your household.
To schedule electrical maintenance and inspections, call today at (909) 500-8193 or contact us online. Don’t forget to ask about available deals and specials!