Electrical Inspections

Let's Make Sure Your Home Stays Safe & Sound By Inspecting Your Electrical Systems.

Electrical Inspection

When was the last time you checked your home or business smoke detectors? What about the outdoor electrical components? These items may be easy to overlook, but they are vital to your property’s safety and security and should be regularly checked by a professional.

Before you decide to search for an “electrician near me,” discover how hiring a well-trained residential electrician from SALT can provide your home with the proper service. SALT also has licensed and certified electricians for your business needs.

What Does an Electrical Inspection Include?

Our electricians undergo rigorous training and certification to ensure they are experts on electrical components. When they arrive at your home or business to complete an inspection, they will check everything, including but not limited to:

Condition of all switches and outlets
Placement and operation of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
Examination of outdoor electrical systems, including security lighting
Potential shock or electrocution hazards
Grounding and surge protection
Verification of the electrical panel’s operation, amps, and labels
Proper wattage use for light bulbs
Proper wiring methods

An electrical inspection for a newly built home or business is even more detailed and usually requires specific paperwork and clearance. Reach out to SALT for more information and assistance with your particular needs.

What Are the Benefits of an Electrical Inspection?

Besides complying with state and federal laws for new constructions, having an electrician conduct a thorough inspection of your property’s electric systems can have many advantages. A residential electrical inspection allows for:

Correcting potential safety and fire hazards
Reducing energy use and costs
Identifying old knob and tube or aluminum wiring for replacement
Meeting insurance requirements
Spotting electrical mistakes from previous technicians or owners
Updating out-of-date components
Checking for surges, poor grounding, or fuse issues
Providing peace of mind

Our electricians use the National Electrical Code (NEC) to guide their examination and decision-making. That way, they know they’ve covered all their bases to keep your property and everyone at it safe. Additionally, our apprentices train at the Central Texas Chapter of the Independent Electrical Contractors to ensure their education is relevant and responsible.

When Should Electricians Perform Inspections?

At this point, you may be wondering when was the last time your home or business had an electrical inspection and if it’s due for another one any time soon. An inspection should take place if you:

Purchase a home or business
Construct a new property
Add or replace a major appliance such as a fridge, washer, or dryer
Renovate or remodel any part of a property with electrical systems
Own a structure that is 40+ years old

While this list covers most conditions for needing an inspection, you can request an inspection if you think something might be wrong with your electrical system. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Common Discoveries During an Inspection

Like those at SALT, professional electricians are the experts who know what to look for during an inspection, but what sort of issues do they often find? Let’s go over some of the most common ones and why they cause problems.

Painted or Ungrounded Outlets

If any outlet plugs have been painted over, it could cause overheating and lead to a fire. When outlets do not have a proper grounding in place, they can easily cause shocks or worse.

Exposed or Taped Wires

Wires that are either exposed or poorly taped together can create fires with a single spark. Plus, if anyone touches the exposed area, they will receive an unpleasant and potentially harmful shock.

Improperly Modified Panels

When done incorrectly, modifications to electrical panels can cause hotspots, flickering lights, or overheating, all issues to avoid.

Knob-and-Tube or Aluminum Wiring

Knob-and-tube wiring is usually found in homes built before 1950 or so. It does not have grounding or protection from faults and does not pass current codes, so it must be replaced by law.

Aluminum wiring initially replaced knob-and-tube in the 60s and 70s, but it was discovered to overheat quickly and cause hazards, so it also needs to be replaced when found.

Double-Tapping of Circuit Breakers

Double-tapping a circuit breaker is when you put two or more live wires into one circuit breaker. While it is possible to do this, it creates a greater risk of overheating and fire.

Lack of GFCIs

Ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) will stop abnormal current flow to reduce the potential of shocks or sparks. They are frequently used in kitchens and bathrooms due to possible water exposure, so if they are not present, they can cause issues. Thankfully, you don’t need to worry about remembering and checking for all of these issues yourself. Instead, have SALT come out to your property to do a professional inspection for you.

Call SALT Electricians for an Inspection

Whether you need a residential electrician to complete an inspection, you can count on SALT to send you an expert in the field who has the experience to verify your building is up to code and safe. We service Austin and surrounding areas in Central Texas. Call Us Today!

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Electrical Inspections