According to research, it is estimated that nearly 48,000 home fires were reported to U.S. fire departments in 2011. These incidents involved some type of electrical malfunction or failure as the culprit. As a homeowner, it is very important to have your home structure’s electrical wiring inspected from time to time.
Overall, most homes are built with either 12-gauge or 14-gauge electrical wiring, depending on the type of home and size. In hopes of preventing future electrical problems, it is ideal to contact a qualified electrician upon buying your home, adding a major appliance, and even after completing a house renovation. Often, finding a qualified electrician takes careful research, but you want to make sure that this contractor is licensed and insured, provides a fair price, and obviously, offers exceptional service. More than 500,000 electricians currently work in the United States.
The job of the electrician is to do a comprehensive inspection of your home’s wiring systems and related components to ensure they meet safety and legal standards. This can apply to the inside as well as the outside of your home if you have lighting in your backyard, for example. Another aspect of the electrical inspection is identifying faulty or outdated wiring, carefully correcting any electrical problems to prevent an electrocution or a fire, and also testing carbon monoxide and smoke detectors to make sure they’re also working properly. A qualified electrician, also known as a lighting contractor, can also give tips on home energy efficiency when it comes to using stuff such as lamps, and small and larger appliances.
In addition to finding a qualified contractor to resolve electrical problems throughout the inside and outside of the home, homeowners should consider having arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) installed on bedroom circuits, smoke detectors in all of the bedrooms and hallways, as well as smoke detectors on each floor of the home. And, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, GFCIs, or ground-fault circuit interrupters, can minimize electrical problems and prevent more than two-thirds of approximately 300 electrocutions that occur in the home annually.
Ultimately, finding and establishing a good working relationship with a certified electrician can safeguard against potential electrical problems and maximize your home’s safety for years to come.
What steps have you taken to protect your home from electrical hazards? Share in the comments section below.
