Specific home maintenance checkups should be done annually to troubleshoot potential issues before they become problems. One important area to check is your home’s electrical system. Catching hazards early will not only save you money but also, potentially, your house and life. Once or twice a year, inspect the following.
- Open and close the panel door to your breaker box to ensure it latches properly. The outside panel should be adequately weatherproofed, with the door slotting under a waterproofing drip edge. Switches should be clean and snap off and on crisply. No vegetation or crawling ants should live inside the panel.
- All outlets near a water source (bathroom, kitchen, outdoors) should be ground fault circuits, interrupt circuits, or GFCI types. Push the “Test” button and then the “Reset” button. These should work crisply, and the test light should turn green upon reset.
- Inspect wiring in the attic and basement, especially to and from the HVAC, water heater, and other systems. Look for signs of rodent gnawing. Do not store flammable items near such systems.
- Exterior plugs should be in weatherproof boxes with flip-open lids. The lids should be slotted to admit a plug but still close. The plug itself should be a GFCI type.
- Any wall plug at a level accessible to a child should have a childproof design. If not, have these plugs upgraded. Plugs should sit snugly and securely and not be jiggly.
- Use your senses: Switches should not pop when operated, and outlets should not pop when a plug is inserted or pulled. Outlets should also not be hot to the touch or emit a hot smell.
Useful tools for checking your electrical system
Have these inexpensive sensors on hand for your electrical system inspections:
- A receptacle voltage tester is plugged into the hot (smaller slot) side to determine whether it is hot (electrified).
- A non-contact tester can detect current without contacting the copper wire. Hold it next to the wire’s outside insulation, which will light up if current is present.
It is essential to use these tools to check if a line is “hot” if you aren’t sure after turning off the breaker switch to the circuit. Important safety note: Always consult a licensed professional if you detect a problem or are unsure about handling electrical wires and circuits.
Related – Electricity: Your Home’s Risky Resource
