Top electrical safety checks to conduct when moving into a new home

Alongside doing plenty of market research to make sure the property’s been valued fairly by the sellers, prospective homebuyers will also need to make sure that they’re allocating a portion of their budget for conducting a building and pest inspection as well as plumbing and electrical safety inspections.

All of these inspections will be able to help you detect potential issues in a new home prior to purchase, but as any seasoned homeowner knows, the real work begins once your settlement is over.

To help provide you with guidance when assessing the electrical wiring and system safety of your new home, we’ll be outlining some of the top electrical safety checks you’ll need to conduct in the first few weeks following your purchase or move.

Power System Overview

Before we begin, let’s start with an overview of all the most common components you should have inspected when conducting preliminary electrical safety checks for a newly purchased property.

Naturally, the first place you’d want to begin is with your property’s circuit breaker box. Doing a wiring check in your home is crucial for several reasons.

Overloaded or faulty circuits are a leading cause of fires. Exposed wires and malfunctioning outlets pose a risk to young children and pets.

Alongside inspecting your fuse box, homeowners are also encouraged to inspect wiring maps for their home to see if any renovations or amendments made by previous owners could pose any risks.

Many electrical-related problems also aren’t readily visible since they may be due to age or faulty installations within walls, under flooring, or behind control panels.

If your home had several previous owners, some questionable DIY modifications may have been made that don’t measure up to code.

A quick disclaimer: remember that these electrical safety checks are best conducted by a licensed electrician with extensive experience providing their services to your locality.

In other words, if you’re living in Melbourne, it’s best to enlist the services of a certified electrician in Melbourne, as a local electrician will have a better handle on detecting potential risks associated with local Melbourne weather patterns (i.e. wiring in high moisture environments, or properties in areas with a higher likelihood of experiencing electrical storms).

Inspecting the Electrical Panel or Circuit Breaker Box

Also known as the circuit breaker box, or power distribution unit (PDU), this main control panel transfers the current throughout your home to the various outlets in each room.

You’ll typically find it in a central location, either in a utility or laundry room, the garage, or perhaps the basement.

The first thing you and your electrician should do when inspecting your home’s circuit breaker box is to check for adequate labelling.

Each circuit should be clearly identified to indicate which room or house area it serves, such as the attic, bedrooms, etc.

Properly named tags make it easy to quickly identify during emergencies or maintenance.

Next, visually inspect for signs of corrosion, tampering, or damage from previous overheating.

If there are no visible signs of damage that could pose a risk, proceed with the remainder of your inspection, this time by turning off all appliances on the line to use a multimeter and thus determine whether the breaker delivers power.

Look for circuits with double-tapping (more than one wire).

This is a main cause of problems leading to surges and fires and must be corrected promptly.

Finally, verify the amperage ratings match the appliances served on this particular loop.

Inspecting Outlets & Switches

Next, you’ll want to inspect and test all the power outlets and switches around your home.

Ensure these components are in top working condition to avoid hazards like shocks when touching them and to prevent damage to connected devices such as computers and appliances.

Do a visual inspection for proper grounding, meaning there are two vertical holes and one round or U-shaped.

Verify the cover plate on each outlet is securely attached and not cracked or broken. Test each switch in the on and off position, and listen for unusual noises and sparking.

Use a quality outlet receptacle tester to quickly identify wiring problems.

This tool will be able to indicate whether the unit is wired correctly, grounded, and functioning safely.

Running these tests is especially important in rooms where you can expect a higher moisture content (i.e. kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room spaces).

Be sure to also check the IP ratings for any fixtures or built-in electrical amenities in these wet areas around the home.

Assessing Wiring & Cable Insulation

The condition of your home’s wiring is fundamental to electrical safety. Outdated and worn cable insulation can quickly result in failures or, worse, a life-threatening fire.

Thankfully, assessing your home’s wiring is easier than you may expect it to be.

Begin by searching for signs of cracking and fraying, especially in areas with minimal insulation, such as the basement or underfloor as well as the ceiling cavity.

Briefly remove the covers to inspect the wires behind the outlets and switches.

And once again, all connections within your property’s fuse box should be tidy and enclosed; exposed wires are hazardous and must be corrected with proper insulation.

Don’t forget about these crucial connections either!

Fans & Large Light Fixtures

Many homes have chandeliers, and ceiling fans hard-wired into the system behind the outer drywall layers.

To prevent electrical hazards, periodic spot checks on the wiring and hardware are recommended.

This measure is equally important when conducting electrical checks prior to home renovations.

Inspect all ceiling fans in your new home for wobbling, loose fan blades, and motor housing issues.

Over time, loose mounting brackets and bolts will cause undue wear on the wire insulation, potentially causing shorts or sparks, which can lead to fire.

Ensuring all fans in your home are securely mounted will help keep them operating smoothly upon you and your family moving in.

The same goes for large light fixtures.

Make sure these fixtures aren’t loose and are free from any cracks or other signs of damage.

If you do detect any concerns like loose screws or cracks in their domes, it’s best to swap out these fixtures entirely.

Testing Smoke Detectors

This brings us to one of the most crucial safety checks for all new properties: your smoke detectors.

In order to reduce the risk of house fires, your home should have a smoke detector fitted on each level, and outside all bedroom doors.

Verify if your smoke detectors are hard-wired into your electric system, battery-operated, or a hybrid.

To test, simply press the “Test” button and wait for a loud, audible sound.

You can also use a smoke detector spray to test hard-wired units.

Batteries should be replaced every year or according to manufacturer specs, including hybrid units that use them only for backup.

And remember to also test your carbon monoxide alarms, if equipped.

Some units have a digital display showing current levels; once again, press the “Test” button to ensure proper readings.

Working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors aid in preventing house fires across Australia.

Inspecting Outdoor Outlets

If your new home has exterior lighting and electrical connections, these will also need to be inspected to ensure that they’re adequately connected and weatherproofed.

Verify the outlet covers haven’t worn or become damaged; replace them as necessary and ensure they’re securely fastened with locks if pets or small children are present.

Outdoor lighting fixtures should also be examined for secure mounting and insulated wiring with proper cable management.

Promptly replace corroded, rusted, or cracked metal casings, including outdoor electrical panel enclosures.

And once again, if you lack any related tools or the home has hard-to-reach spots, address these concerns, plus any red flags with a certified electrician.

With all of these tests conducted and any necessary changes or corrections carried out by a licensed electrician, your new home should be all ready for a safe and swift move in.

Remember to stay on top of your electrical maintenance responsibilities for the duration of your ownership of that new property as well.

This means conducting annual checkups of your smoke detectors and alarm systems, and making sure that your fuse box and other electrical components are inspected prior to electrical storm season.

After all, nobody wants to deal with an electrical breakdown in the middle of a thunderstorm!