Do you need an Electrical Inspection Assessment for your home? Homeowners sometimes perceive any type of inspection with trepidation. In this case the information is for their benefit and safety.
An Electrical Inspection Assessment, completed by a certified electrician, is important to every homeowner.
General Home Inspection vs Electrical Inspection Assessment
There is a significant difference between a general Home Inspection and an Electrical Inspection Assessment completed by a certified electrician.
Training to become a licensed home inspector consists of approximately 6 weeks of academic and on-site training. This training will provide the home inspector with basic knowledge of most components of your home such as heating, cooling and ventilation, roofing, the exterior and interior of the structure, plumbing and electrical. Because of limited knowledge, a home inspector is unable to inspect most of the electrical in the home. A home inspection report provides a very basic overview of all the various systems of the home.
A certified electrician receives a minimum of 40 weeks of academic training in addition to 6000 hours of jobsite training. This education takes approximately 4 years to complete. An Electrical Safety Assessment is a thorough and detailed inspection of the entire electrical system specifically. A certified electrician will check the health of the entire electrical system from the incoming BC Hydro connection point, to the main service, grounding, wiring and throughout all levels of the home’s interior and exterior. A standardized Risk Rating is the most important part of the reporting process as it informs the homeowner of the potential for accidental fire caused by the electrical system.
*Most insurance providers will not accept an electrical inspection report without a corresponding Risk Rating.
Value of an Electrical Safety Assessment
The following are reasons for when an electrical safety assessment is important:
Provides a thorough understanding of the condition of the entire electrical system in an existing home or a potential home purchase.
Identifies potential concerns before they become major repairs.
Provides valuable information needed when planning future changes, major renovations or adding electrical load demand like an air conditioner or a hot tub to the electrical system.
Satisfies the requirements of an insurance provider for renewal or a new policy.
Provides peace of mind in determining that the electrical system in an older home is operating safely. This is especially important if no electrical maintenance has been done in several years.
Like any piece of equipment, your electrical system requires periodic inspection and maintenance. As electrical components deteriorate from wear, or Code changes identify improved safety in methods or products, an electrical inspection will keep homeowners informed of available safety options. (Our technicians still come across homes that do not have grounded circuits or GFCI protection). We recommend that a thorough electrical assessment be done approximately every 10 years. For real peace of mind regarding your home’s electrical system, call Blue Crest Electric to schedule your Electrical Power Safety Check Assessment with Risk Rating.