Why Your Portland Home Needs an Electrical Inspection
October is fire prevention month, and it’s the perfect time to schedule an electrical inspection for your Oregon home.
Sun Glow Home Services has licensed electricians ready to inspect your wiring, electrical panel, outlets, and switches to help keep you safe from electrical system failures and fires.
A National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) study found that an estimated 46,700 home fires involved electrical failure or malfunction every year from 2015 to 2019. Those fires resulted in an average of 390 deaths, 1,330 injuries, and approximately $1.5 billion in damage.
The NFPA says 30 percent of fires sparked by electrical failure or malfunction occurred between November and February. The organization warns that aging residential electrical systems struggling to accommodate modern appliances can lead to overloaded circuits and fires.
Portland Electrical Services
If you plan to build an addition to your Gresham home, add more electrical appliances, or install an ev-charging station in your garage, consult with a Sun Glow electrician about your electrical system’s ability to handle the additional demand.
Even if you are not planning additional electricity use, consider inspecting your electrical system for wear and tear, defective wiring, and other issues—especially if you own an older house.
Benefits of an Electrical Inspection
- Safety, fire and electric shock prevention, and system overload or breakdown are primary reasons to schedule an inspection.
- Professional guidance is invaluable. Ask your electrician any questions about your electrical system, potential upgrades, and energy-saving tips.
- An electrical inspection reveals worn or damaged components and identifies potential issues that are minor now but could become dangerous or costly problems if left unaddressed.
- An electrician can tell you if your electric panel and wiring can handle added electrical demand. You will learn if you need upgrades before purchasing new appliances or a heat pump.
- An inspection can expose amateur work that does not comply with the electrical code. If previous homeowners cut corners with do-it-yourself electrical work, you want to be sure it is safe and up to code.
- Ask your electrician if you should upgrade the original fixtures and outlets in your older Gresham home.
What Is Involved in an Electrical Inspection?
An inspection will focus on your electrical panel, its circuit breakers and wiring, switches, outlets, and wiring throughout your home, along with outdoor electrical access points. Your electrician will identify areas that do not meet current electrical codes and may recommend upgrades.
It is the perfect time to discuss installing new ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlets in your kitchen, bathroom, and other areas where outlets are near water use.
Why Does My Home Need an Electrical Safety Inspection?
A routine inspection will uncover any underlying issues that could lead to a house fire. An inspection can also show you ways to save money on your electricity use.
Our Multnomah County electricians at Sun Glow always follow the standards spelled out in the National Electrical Code. Here are a few of the components we’ll inspect:
- Electrical wiring
- Light switches
- Wall outlets
- Electrical Panels
- Grounding systems
- Safety and security lighting
- Surge protection
- Smoke detectors
- Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors
- And more
How Often Should I Get an Electrical Inspection?
We recommend scheduling an inspection every three to five years at minimum—or every other year if your home is over 40 years old.
You will also want to schedule an inspection if you purchased a previously-owned home, added new appliances, or recently remodeled.
Schedule Your Electrical Inspection Today
Sun Glow Home Services has qualified, licensed electricians ready to inspect and maintain the electrical system in your Gresham home. For a free quote on your next electrical project, call us at 971-358-1227 or request-service-online.