Home Electrical Inspection in Charleston, SC – Licensed Charleston Electrician
Are you looking for a home electrical inspection in Charleston, SC?
Transworld Electric offers home electrical inspections in Charleston, SC and the surrounding areas including Mount Pleasant, Summerville, James Island, Johns Island, and West Ashley. Having a licensed electrician perform an electrical inspection on your home can also verify if the home inspector was correct in his assessment of your electrical system.
Here are some items to consider in the home electrical inspection process:
Local Codes & NEC Compliance
The National Electrical Code (NEC) is the standard for electrical safety. Home electrical fires account for an estimated 51,000 fires each year so it is important that your home’s electrical system was installed and serviced according to the National Electric Code (NEC) standards. Some codes and regulation may vary by state or city, so it is important to hire a local Charleston electrical contractor that has licensed Charleston electricians who has a good understanding of the local codes and regulations.
* South Carolina only requires that the owner of the electrical contracting company be a licensed electrician and allows the employees to work under that license. Transworld, Inc Electrical Contractors goes above and beyond by requiring all our electricians to be licensed electricians so when you hire our Charleston electricians, you can trust that you will have a licensed electrician performing your home electrical inspection and not just an electrical helper who is not licensed.*
Grounded Outlets
There are a lot of homes that still have ungrounded outlets. During the home electrical inspection, the Charleston electrician you hire should be able to tell you the options you have for upgrading ungrounded outlets. If you have any grounded outlets (3 prong outlets) installed on a non-grounded (2 wiring systems missing a grounding conductor in the wiring) circuit you will need to hire a licensed electrician to install a new outlet or a rewire. This is non-code compliant and needs to be updated.
GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) Outlets
Any wet areas, including bathrooms, kitchens, garages, unfinished basements, and exterior areas, must have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) installed. Many older homes were not required to install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters by code at the time the home was built but most home electrical inspectors and buyers will demand they be installed. NEC (National Electric Code) 2014 ART 210.8 states the exact locations where ground fault circuit interrupters are required. Ground fault circuit interrupters have been a National Electric Code (NEC) requirement since the 1970s and may be one of the greatest saving devices manufactured. Also, remember to test your ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) every 6 months.
Electrical Service Panel
The electrical service panel and its components (fuses and circuit breakers) must be reviewed for age, dark or smoky residue, and wear and tear by a licensed electrician. Also, all neutrals and ground wires in your electric panel should be terminated on its own terminal slot
** If you own a home with a Federal Pacific Electric (PPE) circuit breaker panel with Stab-Lok circuit breakers, you run the risk of breaker malfunction and fire. When you have a home electrical inspection, most buyers will request a seller update any Federal Pacific Panels found in the home. Read this post to learn more -> The Hazards of Federal Pacific Electric Stab Lok Circuit Breaker
Wiring
Many older homes may contain outdated knob and tube wiring or aluminum wiring that will need to be replaced for the safety and marketability of your home. These wiring systems have caused millions of dollars in property damage from fires as well as countless injuries and deaths since its original manufacture and use. Make sure you ask the licensed Charleston electrician who is performing your home electrical inspection what type of wiring is in your home.
Outlets & Lighting
When you have your home electrical inspection make sure you notify the licensed Charleston electrician to inspect any humming noises or switching sounds that your home has around outlets or lighting. Also, any loose outlets must be tightened or replaced and cords must fit snugly. Also, make sure the Charleston electrician that you hire visually inspects every outlet in your home for black smoke and other signs of damage.
Electrical System Upgrade
All electrical systems gradually deteriorate over time and it’s recommended that a licensed Charleston electrician inspect your Charleston home’s electrical system every 3-5 years. That can vary depending on how old your home is how many appliances you have. Typically, older homes may have older electrical systems that may not be able to support all the appliance and electronics that we use in our daily lives. Even if your home is new, you should be mindful of the amount of electricity you use and look out for any signs that there might be an electrical hazard in your electrical system.
What are some signs that may indicate your electrical system needs an upgrade?
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Circuit breakers frequently tripping
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Fuses blowing
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Outlets and switches not working normally or discolored
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Outlets are only 2 pronged instead of 3 pronged
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Lights begin to dim when you turn on other appliances
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Extension cords or adapters are used frequently to create additional outlets in your home
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If your electrical system is more than 20 years old it should be inspected by a licensed electrician
