In today’s world electricity is often taken for granted. If your power provider has a failure, you understand you may have to go a few hours without electricity. When the failure happens to be on your end of the line, it's your responsibility and up to you to handle, whether out of pocket or through an insurance company. There are some common problems you may have to address as a homeowner which you may or may not be familiar with.
Storm Damage
It's not 1950, and you don't have to unplug everything you own and pull out your fuses to avoid damage during a thunderstorm. Building code requires your house be properly grounded so as to not draw lightning strikes. However, lightning can't always be predicted and carries far more voltage than anything built for modern housing systems can withstand. If lightning strikes your house, there will be electrical damage which needs repair. If a storm causes electrical damage to the grid you use, some of that damage may carry over to your house and therefore become your responsibility.
Fire Hazards and Rewiring
Older homes are more susceptible lightning damage, but also hold a more immediate concern with old, worn out wiring and fire hazards. In some cases the wiring insulation has simply rotted and left exposed wires, in other instances, a rodent infestation damaged wiring and left poor connections. One common connection you'll want to make is to not risk a fire hazard over the old wiring. An inspection is always a good idea, and rewiring to modern code will assure you can enjoy the comfort and cordiality of an older house without having to worry about potential dangers.
Barely Legal Installs and Building Above Code
Codes define what is and is not acceptable as a baseline quality of electrical work, but don't define what is in your best interest as the owner. If you plan to add to your home, whether as an addition or by running more wires to an exterior garage or shop, you'll want to make sure your home is up to code. If you decide to sell the house, proof of such planning will add to the value and appeal of the property. Your plans dictate the extent you may want to build over code but generally speaking, you'll want to use an electrician such as Harrison Electric who can efficiently add 20-50 percent of your current needs to your electrical system.
So make sure your home is safe from poor wiring hazards by having Harrison Electric be your go to electricians. We specialize in storm repairs, rewiring, and more! Give us a call at 763-544-3300 orvisit us online for more information.