How often do you stop to think about how much electricity you use on a daily basis? Probably not very often. In fact, most of us hardly notice just how much electricity we consume, let alone how much energy there is flowing through our homes.

Having an understanding of the electrical system in your house is a good idea for any responsible home owner. This way if something goes wrong, you’ll at least know where to start. And, especially if you live in an older home, it’s smart to know what has been done by previous owners and what condition they’ve left things in.

Like anything, electrical wiring systems have gone through changes over the years. As technology has advanced, electrical systems have gotten safer, more powerful and more efficient. And appliances, lighting and electronics have kept pace. Therefore, that means that using new modern appliances in a house that hasn’t had any updates has the potential to create problems like overloading the system.

If you’re not sure that you need an electrical inspection, here are some things to take note of that might be a sign that an inspection is in order.

• Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors not working properly or missing.
• New light fixtures installed into old wiring.
• Crowded wiring.
• Spliced wires.
• Circuits tripping regularly.
• Lights dimming when appliances are used.
• You’ve updated some major appliances (like in the kitchen or laundry room).
• There are sparks when plugging in or unplugging electronics.

Any of these situations are signs that you could use an electrical safety inspection. While some people fear that getting any electrical work done will cost a small fortune, that’s simply not the case. An electrician might recommend updating outlets or fixing illegal splices or crowded wires, but these can be small fixes. And besides, it’s hard to put a price on ensuring the safety of your home.

Perhaps the above list doesn’t apply to you. That’s great! But we’re not quite finished here. Last but not least, here are several scenarios where an electrical inspection is strongly recommended. They include:

• If you are purchasing a new home or building.
• If your house is more than 40 years old.
• If you are installing a major appliance or updating your lighting fixtures.
• If you are considering renovations or have just finished updates to your home.

Getting an electrical inspection will give you the insight you need to understand the house’s (extremely important) electrical system. It will also give you a path forward if there are pressing or potential safety hazards.

Remember: Electrical inspections should be done by a professional with the right tools, knowledge and experience to spot and fix any problems that might be hidden behind the walls. There are plenty of online tutorials for any kind of DIY project. But unless you have training, experience and proper training, electrical work should be left to professionals.

At BPM Electric, we service homes and buildings in Surrey and the Lower Mainland. If you notice a problem area in your home’s electrical or you’d simply like the peace of mind that comes with having an electrical inspection, give us a call.

Our certified electricians will do a thorough inspection and offer solutions and advice, or hopefully even a clean bill of electrical health!