Have you noticed your dining room lights flicker when the furnace kicks on?
Have you seen brown spots on your electrical outlets?
Do you feel a shock when you flip a switch?
If so, your home may be at risk due to faulty wiring. Faulty wiring can cause a host of negative consequences and needs to be addressed rather than dismissed as inconvenient.
Below we will examine warning signs of faulty wiring, how electricians diagnose problems, and reasons why you need to have your home’s wiring inspected.
Table of Contents
- Why Homeowners Worry About Their Electrical Wiring
- Can an Electrician Check Wiring for a House?
- How Does an Electrician Check for Faulty Wiring?
- 3 Reasons You Should Have Your Home’s Wiring Checked
- Can an Electrician Check Wiring Without Opening Walls?
- Schedule a Home Wiring Check with PDX Electric
Why Homeowners Worry About Their Electrical Wiring
Your home may be giving you warning signs that there is an issue with your wiring that needs to be addressed.
Critical warning signs include:
- A burning odor
- Visible discolored spots on outlets
- Unusual sounds coming from outlets or switches
- Walls, outlets, or switch plates that feel warm
- Circuit breakers that trip regularly
- Feeling a tingle or shock when touching a switch, outlet, or appliance
Subtle indicators include:
- Dimmed lights when appliances start up
- Physically damaged outlets or switches
- High energy usage
- Rodent damage to wires
Any of these indicators, or if you are purchasing an older home, means that you need to have your wiring inspected.
Warning Signs That Wiring May Be a Problem
The indicators above are signs that the wiring in your home may be faulty and dangerous. You may have:
- Overloaded circuits
- Loose connections
- Deteriorated insulation
- Damage from rodents or other animals
If you find yourself making frequent trips to the breaker box, your circuits may be overloaded or short-circuiting. It could also mean the insulation is damaged.
You should never hear or smell your outlets or switches. Burning smells or crackling sounds mean there could be overheating or faulty connections. The outlets and switchplates should not be warm to the touch either.
Plugging something in should not result in a spark or shock. If it does, your wiring could be damaged or improperly connected.
Risks of Ignoring Potential Wiring Issues
Procrastinating about these warning signs can have serious consequences for your home, including:
- Fire hazards: Damaged wiring, faulty switches, and overloaded circuits can ignite surrounding materials and cause a fire.
- Appliance damage: Faulty wiring can cause fluctuations in voltage. Surges and overheating can occur and damage electronic components.
- Shock risks: Damaged wiring or insulation, poor grounding, or overloaded circuits can result in shocks or burns.
- Insurance issues: Insurance companies can deny coverage due to improper maintenance or outdated systems.
Each of these problems should be addressed immediately by an electrician. If you are looking for a skilled Portland area electrician, PDX Electric can provide an inspection and fix any electrical issues they find.
Can an Electrician Check Wiring for a House?
Absolutely! Licensed electricians are qualified to inspect your home’s wiring. During the inspection, they will use professional tools and their expertise to check for:
- Safety issues
- Compliance with the National Electric Code
- Hidden hazards
It is important to have an electrician examine your home’s wiring whenever you:
- Purchase a home
- Live in a home that is over 40 years old
- After major renovations
- After the addition of heavy-load appliances
- If you experience any of the warning signs above
How Does an Electrician Check for Faulty Wiring?
When electricians examine a home for faulty wiring, they follow a process in which they:
- Perform a visual inspection
- Listen for unusual sounds like buzzing
- Feel for hot outlets
- Utilize special tools to diagnose any short circuits, loose connections, or other issues
Visual and Panel Inspections
An electrician will begin the visual inspection by removing the front of the electrical panel and looking for signs of:
- Corrosion
- Loose wires
- Improper labeling
- Signs of overheating, such as warmth to the touch or scorch marks
Electricians will also examine outlets and switches by looking for loose plates, signs of burning, like discoloring, and will ensure that the outlets and switches have proper grounding and polarity.
They will conduct an exam of visual wiring to look for signs of fraying, exposed copper, or wires that are not properly attached to the studs or joists of the home.
Finally, they will inspect heavy-duty appliance cords and connections for signs of damage and ensure that lightbulbs do not exceed the recommended wattage of the light fixtures.
Diagnostic Testing and Safety Measurements
Several tools electricians employ to diagnose faulty wiring or other safety issues include:
- Digital multimeter: Used to see if a wire is broken or if circuits are live.
- Non-contact voltage detector: Used to test the voltage in outlets, switches, and wires without direct contact.
- Insulation resistance detector: Used to determine if the wire insulation is damaged or has leaks.
- Clamp meter: Used to determine if circuits are overloaded.
- Thermal imaging camera: Used to detect overheating.
3 Reasons You Should Have Your Home’s Wiring Checked
#1: Older Homes and Renovations
Older homes were not designed with modern energy consumption in mind; therefore, they often can’t handle the load of modern appliances, computers, etc. Even if the wiring is not aluminum, the wire degrades over time, also putting your home at risk.
If your home is older, it may contain aluminum wiring, which puts your home at a higher risk of fires and damage to insulation.
Outlets in older homes can also be dangerous because they are not grounded. Instead, they are two-prong plugs, which can lead to the risk of electrical shock.
When renovating your home, it is important to have the wiring updated (using the proper permits), not only to ensure code compliance but also to protect your home from safety hazards.
#2: Buying or Selling a Home
Before buying or selling a home, it is vital to have an inspection done to identify any faulty wiring or electrical issues that could cause costly or dangerous consequences down the road.
As a buyer, you can ensure that your new home is safe and up to code. If it is not, it gives you the power to negotiate about the price of the home or to get repairs done before closing.
As a seller, you can prove that the home is safe to buy and that the sale of the property goes smoothly.
#3: Uncover Hidden Risks
Many wiring problems can’t be seen because they are covered by walls and panels. Some issues don’t have noticeable warning signs either.
Having your wiring checked can give you peace of mind that your home is safe. If any issues are uncovered, you can have them corrected before you have dangerous or expensive electrical emergencies.
This also ensures that your home is more energy efficient and meets code requirements once any issues are solved.
Can an Electrician Check Wiring Without Opening Walls?
An electrician can perform some non-invasive safety checks on wiring without cutting into your drywall. These include:
- Breaker box inspection
- Testing of outlets or switches
- Thermal imaging
- Circuit tracing
However, not all wiring issues can be diagnosed without a peek behind the walls. Electricians will need to cut into the drywall primarily:
- If there has been damage from a circuit short
- To locate damaged wiring
- To examine burned or improperly installed wiring
- To update wiring in older homes during renovations
How Much Does a Wiring Check Cost?
There are various costs associated with wiring checks, but the average cost ranges from $150 to $400.
Factors to consider when determining cost include:
- Level of inspection: Standard inspections range from $125 to $200, whereas in-depth, comprehensive inspections can range from $250 to $400
- Troubleshooting: Electricians often charge for initial service calls anywhere from $75 to $150 and also charge an hourly fee that can range $50 to $130 or more
- Permits required: Acquiring a permit for electrical work can range from $50 to $350
Schedule a Home Wiring Check with PDX Electric
Whether you are living in an older home, are renovating your home, or are in the process of buying or selling your home, PDX Electric can perform a home wiring check to ensure your property is safe and up to code.
Our family-owned company is locally operated and provides quick responses and scheduling with upfront estimates. We can complete repairs, inspections, installations, and troubleshooting services.
If you need a trusted electrician with a wealth of expertise, contact PDX Electric today!
