If you’re planning on selling your home in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, it’s extremely important that you make sure everything is up to code. Some code violations are illegal, others can be dangerous—some are both!

Wiring mistakes – most wiring mistakes are made by handymen doing electrical work instead of certified electricians. Among the worst we’ve seen are electrical systems that were hooked up using extension cords instead of dedicated electrical wires!

Overcrowding with too many wires – overcrowding is another sign of a contractor who didn’t know quite what they were doing. Since poorly maintained wires can get hot, any place where there are masses of wires packed tightly together can create a major fire hazard.

Exposed wires or junction boxes – frayed or exposed wires can pose a major electrical safety hazard and should be either replaced or patched up. And while junction boxes should be within reach, they should not be so easily accessible that they can accidentally be touched.

Ground Fault Interrupters (GFI) outlets or breakers not working properly – GFI outlets are especially important for the kitchen, bathroom, and anywhere else where water or humidity could create an electric shock risk. If these outlets are not working properly, you could be in danger without even realizing it!

Mixing line- and low-voltage wires together – the National Electric Code (NEC) expressly forbids this, but we often see it, especially when dealing with HVAC installations.

Light fixture or ceiling fan installed without a junction box – junction boxes are required to be installed so they are always accessible and are used to run multiple conductors in two or more directors. The most common problem we see is junction boxes installed out of reach in a concealed wall or ceiling space.

Missing or damaged switch and outlet covers – plate covers on switches and outlets are important for preventing electric shocks. If you’ve recently painted or remodeled the room, you may have taken the covers off. Make sure you put them back on!

Damaged outlets – damaged outlets can cause appliances and anything plugged into the outlet to malfunction and can also create a major fire risk.

These days, many home sellers are seeing the value of having an electrical inspection prior to putting their home on the market. Having the ability to correct any electrical code violations ahead of time may help in avoiding delays in the negotiation and sales transaction.

If you’re planning on selling your home in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, call Kolb Electric! We can perform an electrical inspection and make any necessary electrical code corrections. Don’t wait—call us today!

Older homes generally have a character quality that can’t be seen in newer houses. These homes offer great value, and renovation improvements can bring new life into them. Unfortunately often enough the electrical wiring is never inspected during these updates for years at a time. To ensure that all your hard work is going to be safe, look for these common dangers that could threaten your older home.

From the 50s to 70s many homes were built with aluminum wiring. This was used because it was cheaper and more conductive than copper wiring. Unfortunately many pitfalls were found with aluminum wiring after it was used. Overheating and cracking are common problems with aluminum wiring. If your home was built in this time period, have your wires inspected. There could be a number of hazardous points behind your walls that may cause major issues. For more information and hazard signs of aluminum wiring, read our blog article.

Knob and tube wiring was used in homes in the early 1900s and even as early as 50 years ago. It is possible that these homes still contain knob and tube wiring in them. This wiring can be dangerous as it is more likely to crack and result in electrical fires.

The dangers of these two out-dated wiring systems are that they were installed without worry and the problems were not realized until years later. The electrical wiring systems in these homes were left untouched and so did the problems that came with them. Electrical fires, are especially dangerous as the fire starts and spreads quickly and out of sight. By the time the fire is visible it is too late and the damage can be done.

Over the years homes can see additions: new rooms added onto the home, new electrical lines added, hot tubs, etc. If a licenced electrician did not perform these additions there can be a mess of wire connecting the additions to the original home. This problem comes to a head at the service panel. If it is not properly maintained the breaker will trip constantly and electrical outlets will be overloaded. This is very dangerous as the electrical panel is in charge of keeping your home safe from electrical hazards. It is very important that the electrical panel is upgraded in order to provide the correct control of electricity throughout the entire house, old and new. This also means the panel is properly labelled so it is easy to maintain if further updates are being made.

While there is nothing wrong with purchasing an older home, we recommend that a licenced electrician inspect the electrical system in order to identify potential electrical hazards. One of our expert electricians can provide you with a list of items that should be handled. This will help you have peace of mind that your family is safe in their home.