Your electrical panel is the main component of your home’s electrical system, and it needs to be inspected by an electrician regularly. Many electricians recommend having your electrical panel inspected every three to five years, but some households should have their panels inspected more often. This is often the case for older homes, homes that have been recently renovated, or homes that have had frequent electrical issues recently.
If it’s been a while since you’ve had your electrical panel inspected, now is a great time to do so. The holidays are just around the corner, and you want to make sure that your home’s electrical system is in good shape for the increased activity you’ll no doubt have around your house. In fact, there are several great reasons for having your electrical panel inspected before the holiday season. Here are just a few to keep in mind.
1. Preventing an Electrical Fire
House fires can happen at any time during the year, but they seem to be more common during the holidays. Part of this can be chalked up to people lighting more candles indoors or cooking more often, but electrical fires are also common during this time of year. People use strings of lights to decorate their homes or hang them on Christmas trees without thinking about how much of a strain it is putting on their home’s electrical panel, and they soon find that some faulty wiring has set something on fire.
If you’re going to be hanging lights throughout your home or plugging in electric space heaters this winter, make sure that your home’s wiring can handle it. Schedule an electrical panel inspection now before you start decorating your home.
2. Saving Money
Even though you have to pay for an electrical panel inspection, it can still save you money in the long run. Electrical panel issues such as faulty wiring can raise your monthly electricity bill even when all of your lights and appliances appear to be working safely in your home. An inspection might also uncover minor issues that could become expensive repairs later. You’ll most likely use more electricity this winter anyway, so anything that you can do to lower your energy bills will be welcome.
3. Making Repairs When It’s Convenient
Speaking of repairs to your electrical system, you’ll definitely want to schedule those now while it’s still easy to have an electrician make it to your home. If you don’t know whether you need repairs, a good electrician will let you know after an electrical panel inspection. Making repairs or replacing bad wiring now will keep electricians from having to fight holiday traffic or snowy weather to make it to your home. Also, the last thing you want is to lose power in the middle of the winter, so have your panel inspected and repaired now so that doesn’t happen.
4. Making Upgrades and Renovations Easier
The early fall is probably the last time you’ll be able to take on any home improvement projects for the next several months. If you’re planning to make any renovations to your home or upgrades to your wiring before you have company over for the holidays, have your electrical panel inspected to make sure that it can handle any big projects.
5. Keeping Your Guests Safe and Happy
As nice as it is to have family and friends visit for the holidays, it can put a strain on your home in more ways than one. You’ll have to find more room for guests who might be staying for a while, be prepared to cook more food than usual, make sure that your guests are entertained, and make sure that they’re safe. If you want to avoid electrical fires or blown circuits from the extra lighting and heating that you’ll no doubt use in the coming months, an electrical panel inspection is in order. The family and friends you entertain will appreciate it.
6. Preparing for Severe Weather
Severe weather can do more damage to your home than you might realize. Yes, you’ll probably notice things like broken windows or a damaged roof, but you might not be immediately aware of water damage to your electrical system or damaged power lines near your home. There’s no telling what kind of weather you’ll experience this winter, but you need to be prepared for the worst. If your home has been recently hit by severe weather, you should definitely have your electrical panel inspected as there could be damage that you haven’t noticed. Even if your home hasn’t been damaged by a nasty storm, you’ll want to be prepared for the blizzards and ice storms that could accompany the holidays. Have your electrical panel inspected now to make sure that everything is in good shape, and be ready to contact an electrician for another inspection if your home is hit by severe winter weather.
While these are all great reasons to schedule an electrical panel inspection before the holiday season, you also need to be on the lookout for other potential electrical problems in your home. After all, there’s no way to plan for every emergency and mishap that could befall your home. Contact an electrician for an electrical panel inspection if you notice any of the following issues:
- Lights that flicker even when you have new lightbulbs
- Burning smells coming from electrical sockets
- Circuit breakers that keep tripping
- Circuit breakers or fuses that are hot
- Sparking at outlets when you plug in or unplug lights or appliances
You should also schedule an electrical panel inspection if you’ve recently made renovations to your home, especially if you handled the wiring to any additions yourself. DIY projects may seem like great ways to save money, but you should have a professional take a closer look to make sure that you did the job correctly. Older homes will also need more frequent inspections, so have an electrician make a visit to your home every year if it’s more than 50 years old.
Contact Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric to Schedule an Electrical Panel Inspection Today
If your home is in need of an electrical panel inspection or any repairs, Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric will be happy to assist you. Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric is a family-owned and operated company that provides electrical, plumbing, heating, and cooling services to homes in Dallas, TX and the surrounding areas. In addition to electrical panel inspections and repairs, Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric also specializes in furnace repair and replacement, duct cleaning, drain cleaning, and sewer line inspections. We also have financing available for many of our services, so we can find a plan that best fits into your budget.
For more information about scheduling an electrical panel inspection or any other services that you may need in Fort Worth or Dallas, TX, contact Bacon Plumbing Heating Air Electric today. We would love to assist you with any of your electrical panel needs.
