A home electrical system works behind the scenes, so it can be common for homeowners to think everything is just fine when it’s not. As long as you flip a light switch and the light turns on, everything is A-OK, right? Well, not exactly.
Homes need to be insured, and those insurance companies would love to raise your premiums for any small electrical fault. Since electrical problems are often linked with safety concerns, this can be an easy way for insurance costs to get out of control and in dangerous territory. From old knob and tube wiring that was never removed, to outlets that should be GFCI protected, you could see a future full of high costs and headaches without the help of an electrician in Colorado Springs, CO.
Luckily, our team is full of licensed and experienced electricians who can fix your issues quickly and get your home to where it should be.
1. Remove Any and All Knob and Tube Wiring
First things first, let’s approach the most vital task. Knob and tube wiring can be a huge pain for insurance costs, because it’s both dangerous and outdated.
Back in the day, when homes were first being electrified, this was done via lots of knobs and tubes that were placed throughout the house. These wires were not insulated, which lead to a lot of electrical fires until technological advancements were made to insulate wires and protect them. That’s when the old way of looking at electricity, i.e. knobs and tubes, became outdated.
However, many homes still have knob and tube wiring that’s plugged into the grid and electrified. These are safety hazards waiting to happen, and they can be a big deal when insurance companies find out that your home has old or outdated knob and tube wiring. Do yourself a favor, before you get anything else done, and invest in the removal of knob and tube wiring from your home. You’ll thank us later!
2. Ground Your Outlets
We depend on our devices more and more in the 21st century. Could you imagine going one day without using any of your electrical devices? From computers to phones, we practically search for an outlet every hour to charge a phone or device.
However, ungrounded outlets are both a pain and a hazard for your lifestyle. A power surge or lightning storm can cause devastating damage to some of the most expensive appliances and devices in your home. And, ungrounded outlets often require adapters to use properly, meaning you’re purchasing many unsafe and barely usable adapters and accessories.
Invest in professional electrical services to get your whole house grounded so you can avoid a nightmare scenario.
3. Invest in GFCI Protected Outlets
For any rooms where there is water flowing, like bathrooms and kitchens, outlets need to be GFCI protected. These outlets automatically detect when water gets in them and they disconnect from the power grid, stopping any fire hazards or power shortages in their tracks.
If you’re planning on renting out your home or at least parts of your house, then these areas must be GFCI protected or you could find yourself in legal trouble!
Do yourself a favor and schedule a walkthrough with one of the electricians at SoCo Heating and Cooling. So Cool. So Cozy.