Do I Need an Electrical Inspection or Tune-Up?

You probably do not give much thought to the electricity in your Bellingham home––until it goes out or you have a problem with it. If this is the case, you are in a majority.

But is it safe to only think about it on these few occasions, or should your home’s electrical system be part of your overall regular home maintenance plan? Do you need an annual home electrical inspection? What about a tune-up?

Our West Mechanical professionals recommend thinking about it a little more often. You ought to regard your home’s electrical system as part of your overall regular home maintenance plan.

This May Come As a Bit of a Shock

Since most things in your home run with electricity and, according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), one of the top five reasons for house fires is electrical distribution/electrical failures, it is vital to schedule an electrical inspection and tune-up under certain conditions.

Why Is an Electrical Inspection Essential?

An electrical inspection for your Washington home examines your entire system to be sure it meets legal safety standards. The inspection certifies all systems, wiring, and components, like your home’s appliances, are up to legal snuff.

All electricians operate under the National Electrical Code^® (NEC) when conducting inspections, which delineates the parameters for minimum standards across the United States.

When you schedule a home electrical inspection with our West Mechanical electrical professionals, generally these are the things you can expect us to check:

• Electrical panel for proper operation, amps, and labeling (a tune-up may be recommended)

• All arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs)

• Surge protection

• Wall outlets and switches

• Grounding systems

• Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, both placement and testing/condition

• Outdoor electrical systems

• Security and safety lighting

• Light bulb wattage

• Wiring of major appliances

• Possible shock or electrocution situations

Why Is an Electrical Tune-Up Important?

An electrical tune-up, on the other hand, typically only refers to tuning up your electrical panel. The panel is not something that changes often, so a tune-up is not required unless there is a specific reason to think you might need one.

Some reasons to think about a tune-up would be water leaks in the vicinity of your panel, improper wiring, your panel being underpowered or crowded, tripping and blowing fuses, or a poorly manufactured panel. These are all potentially dangerous situations, and a tune-up would be in order to correct them to keep you and your home safe.

When Should You Schedule an Inspection or Tune-Up?

A home electrical inspection or tune-up is not necessary annually, like an HVAC inspection or tune-up.

When it comes to an inspection, our professionals recommend only scheduling one every five years or under the following circumstances, whichever comes first:

• Your Bellingham home is 40 years old or older

• You are purchasing a new home

• You are having a major renovation done to your home

• You are adding a new appliance

As far as an electrical tune-up, as mentioned above, there are specific times you should get one. It’s not an annual recommendation.

Upon completion of either your inspection or tune-up, our electricians will give you a detailed analysis, in the form of a report, of what we concluded or performed. From here you can discuss repairs or replacements that may need to be made.

Contact Us for All Your Electrical Needs

Do not put off getting an electrical inspection or tune-up if your Bellingham, WA, home meets any of our recommended reasons to have one. Electricity is nothing to ignore. The results could be potentially dangerous, or, worse, even deadly.

Call one of our West Mechanical licensed electricians at 360-734-7599 or request service online to schedule your inspection or tune-up today.