Top 5 Common Electrical Problems To Look Out For When Buying A New Home
Are you pay attention to the common electrical problem when buying a new house? It is common to inspect a house when you buy a new home. When you walk into the new house, you notice the house’s color scheme, room layout, and building design. Also, sewerage and water systems are most common when buying a new home.
But few only pay attention to the electrical system of the new buying house. When you buy a new home and do repair work, you will notice the most repair work needed in the electrical system. Several homes have severe electrical issues. You realize it when you start plugging appliances.
It is mandatory to look out for common electrical problems when you try to buy a new house. Before signing the papers, you should keep an eye on issues related to the house’s electrical system. If you are unfamiliar with and do not understand the electrical system, you should hire an electrician to examine the new home.
In this post, we are trying to help you highlight the most common electrical problem before buying a new house.
Also, we will discuss how to deal with the electrical issues and concerns.
#1: Low Voltage In An Outlet
You need to check the voltage of the house. If the voltage of the house is low. Then there is a problem with the wiring. There are several reasons you will experience low voltage at an outlet. Switch malfunction or poor insulation are causes of voltage drop. Sometimes high draw electrical appliance also causes a low voltage.
You need to check the circuit breaker to solve the low voltage problem. If there is melting or smell of burnt plastic, you must solve it as early as possible. Ask the hiring electrical expert to also check the gauge of the wire. In old houses, the wiring is insufficient to load the modern appliances.
#2: Two Hole Outlets
When you visit the new house, you want to buy then analyze sockets closely in the rooms and halls. Are sockets two prongs or three prongs? The modern home has three-prong sockets, and old houses have a two-prong standard. Two prong sockets require two wires, the live and the neutral, while three prongs have three wires live, neutral, and ground. Live, neutral, and earth are represented near the prong with L, N, and E, respectively. The ground (E) protects the electrical appliances from shocks and surges. If there is no third prong, i.e., ground (E), any dangerous situation can occur.
It will surprise you if you are unfamiliar with the third prong. Because the house has no electrical grounding system. When you plug into a two-prong, then it causes a spark. The third prong is necessary for electrical safety, and the lack of the third prong causes a hazard. If the house you are going to buy has three-prong electrical systems, then check it with detail. If anything terrible is found, try to fix it as a priority.
#3: Burnt Outlets and Switches
When visiting each room of the new house, cast an eye on the switches and wall sockets. If there is any severe switches or socket problem, you will see them clearly. Burnt switches and sockets have a block scorch mark on them. If you close your nose to it, you will feel the scent of ionized air. That is the smell associated with electricity. All these issues are signs of evil and burnt electrical wiring of the house and need an expert electrician to fix it.
If the switches or outlets are cracked, then it is more dangerous. Why do these burning sockets and outlet problems occur? These problems arise due to the shocking and sparking of the circuit. Also, it is more common in the two-prong electrical circuit. You must fix it quickly when you see and face such burnt circuit in the new house. Otherwise, it will cause a disaster in the future. If burnt switches and outlets are everywhere in the house, then the whole house requires complete rewiring. If you buy the new house, keep burnt switches and socket fixing on top of the list for repair.
#4: Various Daisy Chained Extension Cords
When you plug in several extension cords, you will quickly notice something wrong with the house’s electrical system. The system does not have enough and the best outlet for running everyday appliances. In this case, when you put all extensions at once, you are taking a risk. Extension cords overload breakers. The solution is to increase your breaker box capacity with new breakers. If you buy a house with an extension cords problem, you must spend on daisy-chained extension cords.
#5: Disorganized Breaker Boxes
During your new house visit, you must also check the breaker box. Check the house’s electrical use capacity. If the breaker is less than the house’s electrical capacity and wiring, you must pay attention to it. Some house agents did not know where are the breaker boxes. But you need to find and examine it deeply.
Overcrowded breaker panels are the problem. A well-organized breaker box has neatly wired along the panel, and every single wire is attached to the breaker. Disorganized electrical breaker causes issues and damage appliances. So when you walk through the new house, visiting the breaker box is mandatory to overcome the electrical damages.
Conclusion
We discuss several common electrical problems to look out for when buying a new home. Do not try to fix these issues myself. Hire a professional and trained electrical expert. It will be better if the electrician inspects the home before you decide to buy. If you buy the house, you will still need an electrician. Also, the electrical expert will show you the budget for the electricity maintenance of the new home. You must solve and repair the new house electrical system according to your use. So keep checking electrical issues as a priority while buying a new house.
If you are looking for professional Electrical Contractor in Fairfax County and Loundon County, please reach out to Simo Electric.
Call Now: (571) 437-0072